Catalan self-employed workers are celebrating growing political recognition as major parliamentary groups demonstrate increased concern about their situation.
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The Organisation of Self-Employed Workers of Catalonia (Autcat) has welcomed this development while calling for concrete action to address systemic challenges facing independent professionals across the region.
During the recent ATA Awards 2025 gala in Madrid, political leaders including PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo presented proposals aimed at reducing fiscal and bureaucratic pressure on self-employed workers. Autcat president Marta Sánchez attended the event and noted the positive shift in political attention toward this crucial economic sector.
Catalan Self-Employed Seek Lasting Solutions
However, Sánchez expressed caution about the nature of the proposals discussed. “The measures we’ve heard have been very oriented toward bonuses, exemptions and reductions,” she commented. “These could be classified as having immediate impact, possibly responding to electoral cycles.”
Furthermore, Autcat insists that what self-employed workers truly need is comprehensive, systemic reform rather than temporary relief measures. The organisation recognises that while tax reductions and simplified declarations provide welcome short-term benefits, they don’t address fundamental structural issues.
The political attention comes amid broader economic challenges facing Barcelona’s workforce. Recent data shows that 60% of Barcelona’s 25-34 year olds arrived since 2015, many of whom work in freelance and gig economy roles that face particular instability.
Additionally, Autcat values specific measures such as reducing the number of tax declarations and the proposed VAT exemption up to €85,000. Nevertheless, the organisation emphasises that these initiatives aren’t entirely new PP proposals but rather relate to implementing European Directive 2020/285.
This EU directive establishes a special VAT regime for small businesses and self-employed professionals known as the franchised VAT scheme. Consequently, member states should have implemented this system by January 1, 2025, allowing professionals earning under €85,000 annually to avoid charging VAT to clients or submitting quarterly and annual declarations.
The growing political focus on the Catalan self-employed reflects their significant economic contribution and the particular challenges they face in Barcelona’s competitive market. Therefore, Autcat hopes this increased parliamentary attention will translate into meaningful, long-term policy changes that properly integrate self-employed work into formal political debate.
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