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Local Spain
a day ago
- Business
- Local Spain
Why are Spain's new self-employed workers all foreign and what are their jobs?
A whopping total of 96.5 percent of new autónomos in Spain who registered over the past four years were foreign nationals, according to the National Federation of Self-Employed Workers (ATA). From March 2021 to the same month in 2025, 108,155 new self-employed workers have signed up to the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA) - out of these 104,338 have been foreign entrepreneurs. "The data is overwhelming: the foreign self-employed community has become a fundamental pillar of RETA's growth over the last four years . This isn't just a statistic; it's a reality that demonstrates the vitality and dynamism they bring to the Spanish productive fabric," explained the president of ATA Lorenzo Amor. In fact, the numbers of foreign autónomos (self employed) almost doubled in number over the past 10 years, having increased by 92 percent since 2015. The number of foreign self-employed workers increased in all 17 regions with the exception of Ceuta and Melilla, which both lost contributors to the system. The regions with the largest number of foreign self-employed workers since 2021 are Valencia with 22,391 foreign self-employed workers, Catalonia with 21,046 and Andalusia with 15,509, which makes sense as these are also the regions that are most popular with foreign residents, along with Madrid. At the same time, there has been a decrease in the number of Spanish autónomos over the last five years in nine regions: Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, Navarra, the Basque Country and La Rioja. Since the numbers of foreigners have increased, however, the total overall signed up has risen. The growth in the number of foreign self-employed workers has been greater than that of Spanish nationals in most regions, with the exception of Andalusia, the Canary Islands and Madrid where the growth of self-employed workers of Spanish orgiin is greater than that of foreigners. ATA revealed that the number of foreign self-employed workers has grown over the past four years, particularly in the construction sector (+17,446 foreign self-employed workers), professional, scientific, and technical fields (+13,906 self-employed workers), hospitality (+12,670), and information and communication (+11,115). The professional, scientific and technical fields include autónomos in accounting, architecture and engineering, technical testing and analysis, consulting, research, social sciences and humanities, advertising, public relations and communications, photography, veterinary medicine, design, translation, interpretation and market research. "It is foreign self-employed workers who are helping to offset the declines in traditional sectors such as commerce and agriculture and who are driving growth in activities such as construction, hospitality, and professional services," explained the president of ATA. The Spanish authorities have been open about the pivotal role foreign self-employed workers are playing in Spain. They are needed in a country with an ageing population and in place that are suffering from depopulation. 'Foreign entrepreneurship is a fundamental pillar of our country's economy,' Spain's Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) President Eduardo Abad has said, with his organisation estimating that Spain will need another 200,000 more foreign autónomos in the next five years. So why the steep increase in foreign entrepreneurs and decrease in Spanish ones? There are several reasons behind the shift in numbers. Firstly, there's the fact that Spain's population is increasing (now 49.1 million) and that's also almost entirely due to the arrival of more foreigners, rather than more Spanish babies being born. Inevitably, a bigger migrant population in part accounts for the higher number of foreign autónomos. Another of the most significant reasons is the introduction of the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) at the beginning of 2023. This has enabled remote workers or those that worked for themselves for clients abroad to gain residency in Spain and has proved very popular with non-EU citizens, particularly with those from the US and the UK. It has also been popular with those from countries who can apply for Spanish citizenship after only two years of residency such as those from the Philippines and Latin America. In order to be eligible, foreign self-employed workers have to promise to sign up to the autónomo system. Another reason is the fact that it's often it's easier for foreigners to start their own businesses than to rely on the local job market. With high levels of unemployment, relatively low salaries compared and language requirements, getting a job here as a foreigner can be challenging. For many, it's actually easier to try and work with clients back in their home countries or start businesses aimed at other foreigners. Thirdly, many foreigners believe it's a good way to be able to live in Spain, but underestimate how tough it is to actually be self-employed here and so sign up without actually knowing how it all works. In fact, the 'dream' for many Spanish workers is to become a civil servant, and a great deal of those who've reached this conclusion are former autónomos. Self-employment tax rules and regulations in Spain can be extremely difficult to get your head around, and what's more you are required to pay one of the highest amounts of social security in Europe. To put things into perspective, if you're earning enough to be eligible for the DNV (€2,763 per month), you'll be paying €440 in social security each month. And this isn't even tax – the tax is paid separately on top of this. You'll also likely have to pay a gestor or accountant to do your taxes as they're so complicated here – forcing you to fork out an average of another €50 per month. Around €500 per month straight off the bat before you even earn anything can be very prohibitive for many to even start a business. Being self-employed here also means stricter rules when it comes to how you invoice, how you get paid and what you can offset against your taxes. It may not be the same as back in your home country. The drop in the number of Spanish self-employed workers could also be explained by the fact that they're aware of how difficult the system is and don't want to take on that burden. They may be happier simply being an employee without the extra stress. In fact this can be evidenced by the fact that only three out of ten (29.7 percent) of Spaniards would recommend self-employment to others, according to a survey by Emprendedores entrepreneurs website. Despite the high payments and strict rules, however, being self-employed and paying social security Spain does enable you to get public health care, paternity and maternity pay and in some cases sick pay too. It's also one of the easiest ways to be able to move to Spain if you're from a non-EU country and many foreigners many to make it work. If you know what you're getting into, read up on all the rules and are aware of how much you'll have to pay out it could be a great option if you have your heat set on living in Spain.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
99 per cent of Alberta teachers urge for formal strike vote
An empty teacher's desk is seen in this generic image of a classroom. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Nearly 38,000 teachers cast online ballots between May 22 and 26 to determine a strike authorization vote. Almost all of them voted in favour. A statement from the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) released Tuesday said that 99 per cent of its members want to go to a formal strike vote after collective agreement negotiations between the ATA and the province's Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association came to a standstill earlier this month. 'Teachers are standing united in demanding respect and recognition for the challenges they experience in today's classrooms,' said ATA president Jason Schilling in a statement. 'Settling for anything less than tangible solutions will not be tolerated.' Strike authorization votes are typically held to gauge the sentiments of a union. After the vote has been conducted, it is up to the ATA's Provincial Executive Council to go to a strike vote or not. If a formal strike vote passes, teachers have 120 days to take action unless a resolution is made between the province and the ATA during that time. Some of the ATA's demands include wage increases and supports to address complex needs in crowded classrooms. Earlier this month, the ATA rejected a mediator's recommendations for a new provincial collective agreement that would include a general wage increase of three per cent per year, a process teachers could go through dealing with classroom complexities and $400 million in classroom improvements. 'The ATA's membership recently rejected an offer that was endorsed by its leadership and recommended by a mediator,' said the Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance in a statement. 'We are waiting to hear from the ATA on what teachers are looking for and why about 60% of those voting did not endorse the deal.' After Budget 2025 was tabled in February, the ATA said the $9.9 billion wasn't enough to address the issues in Alberta schools. According to the ATA, provincial funding needed to increase by 15.8 per cent to bring funding closer to the national average. The national average is about $10-a-day per student. The ATA said the 2025 budget allows for $3.57-per student per-year. The previous agreement expired on Aug. 31, 2024.
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Man jailed over online bomb-making search
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has sentenced a man to two-and-a-half year in prison for seeking guidance on bomb-making via Instagram, following a tip-off from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The court also imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the convict. The court found Hanan Abdullah, a resident of Village Marjal in Tehsil Zafarwal, District Narowal, guilty under Section 21-C(3) read with sub-section (6) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997. However, it acquitted him of charges under Section 12 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 due to insufficient evidence of further planning or intent to carry out an act of terrorism. In his judgment, the ATC judge noted that while Abdullah had contacted another Instagram user — allegedly based in Iraq — to seek guidance on the components and ratios required to make a bomb, no additional evidence was presented that he planned to use this information or pass it on to others. "The prosecution has only been able to prove that the accused sought guidance. In the absence of any planning or dissemination, the maximum punishment is not warranted," the court observed.
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sanam Javed granted bail in protest case
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Thursday granted post-arrest bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed in a case related to a protest rally held on February 8 outside Aiwan-e-Adl. The case, registered by Islampura police, accused Sanam Javed and others of inciting people, blocking roads, and chanting anti-state slogans during the rally. The FIR was lodged the same day, while sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) were reportedly added nearly 80 days later. The prosecution opposed the bail, arguing the seriousness of the charges. However, Javed's counsel contended that the case was politically motivated and that the accused had no connection with the allegations levelled against her. After hearing arguments, the judge approved her bail, noting the delay in applying the ATA provisions and lack of direct evidence linking her to incitement or violence. Meanwhile, the ATC confirmed the pre-arrest bail of four doctors in a case involving a clash between members of the Grand Health Alliance and police.
CBC
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Alberta teachers reject mediator's recommendation, consider strike vote
Social Sharing Teachers in Alberta's public, Catholic and Francophone schools have rejected a mediator's proposal that would have given them an average wage increase of 15 per cent over four years. The offer didn't go far enough to address teachers' concerns about crowded classrooms, packed with a growing numbers of students who have complex and differing needs, said Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling. "Teachers are feeling burned out and frustrated, and they wanted to see more," Schilling told CBC News Wednesday. Of the nearly 36,000 teachers who voted earlier this week, about 62 per cent rebuffed the recommendation, according to the association. The ATA, which has 51,000 members, had recommended members approve the offer. Schilling says including class-size caps in the agreement was part of the ATA's initial proposal to the government. B.C., Quebec, and Ontario are legally obligated to account for class sizes and complexity in teachers' pay. Earlier this year, an arbitrator ruled the next contract for Saskatchewan teachers must account for the number of students with additional needs in their classrooms. The mediator proposed assembling working groups to discuss how schools can tackle an influx of students to the province, as well as growing numbers of English language learners and students diagnosed with a disability or medical condition. Alberta teachers don't want more talking, Schilling said. They want adequate funding for schools, including more teachers and support workers. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides is disappointed that the teachers rejected the offer, he told reporters at the legislature Wednesday. "We await to hear from teachers about what more it is that they're looking for and [to] see how we can work with them to get a deal done," Nicolaides said. The deal included $400 million to improve classroom conditions, he added. The provincial government has also committed $8.6 billion to the School Construction Accelerator Program, a plan to build 90 new schools across Alberta in the next seven years to help alleviate a space shortage. "I'm confident that we're moving in the right direction," Nicolaides said. Teachers discussing strike authorization vote ATA members are now in a 14-day cooling off period, after which they can vote to apply to the Alberta Labour Relations Board to authorize a strike vote. If that passes, the association says teachers will take a strike vote. Should they vote in favour of a strike, teachers have 120 days in which to take job action. That could involve options such as working to rule, cancelling extracurricular activities, rotating strikes or a walkout. Alberta teachers last walked off the job in 2002. School underfunding and class sizes were flash points in the dispute. During news conference Tuesday, Schilling said it is "very possible" teachers will take job action, but he could not predict when. The threat of disruption comes after a winter of school support worker strikes involving thousands of employees in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, and other school divisions. Nicolaides said he hopes the parties can avoid a strike. But he added that the education ministry is planning for that possibility — including the spectre of a teacher walkout when students are scheduled to write provincial standardized exams. Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman was not surprised that teachers dismissed the mediator's recommendation, she told reporters Wednesday. Chapman said teachers have received about a five-per cent salary increase in the last decade, while the cost of living has ballooned. The recommendation also didn't go far enough to address classroom complexity, which many teachers say is a bigger concern than their pay, she said. "Teachers are really not working under conditions that are conducive either for themselves as teaching professionals and for the kids in the classroom," Chapman said.
