New developments in the reform of the self-employed workers’ law

With the entry into force of the new Law 31/2015, on social economy, several measures are approved to encourage and promote self-employment:

• It establishes a “flat rate” of 50 euros of contributions to the Social Security during the first six months of activity by the self-employed, who will also be able to hire workers as employees without losing this right.
• The possibility of capitalising 100% of unemployment benefit in one payment to start a business is opened up to all ages.
• All self-employed workers may combine receipt of unemployment benefit with registration in the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers for up to nine months.
• An unemployed person who initiates an activity as a self-employed worker may request resumption of payment of the remainder of his or her rights to unemployment benefit up to five years after beginning the self-employed activity, providing the reasons for cessation of that activity are financial or organisational.
• Workers who join newly-created worker-owned companies or cooperatives may take advantage of the right to receive unemployment benefit in one sole payment to enable them to become members of such organisations.

The period during which discounts on Social Security contributions paid by family members who collaborate with the self-employed worker may be claimed is extended to two years. This discount will be of 50% during the first 18 months and 25% for the remaining six months.