Canary Islands self‑employed protest this Sunday for their rights on Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife

The collective highlights the demands it has been carrying for a long time, calling for contributions that are “proportional, adjusted to the real income of each month.”

The Platform for the Dignity of Self‑Employed Workers will organize demonstrations this Sunday in dozens of Spanish cities under the slogan “For Dignified Working Conditions.” In the Canary Islands, protests will take place on Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, demanding fair conditions, reduced contributions, social protection and recognition of their work.

In parallel, the Small and Medium‑Enterprise Association of the island of El Hierro will join the protest on Monday, under the banner “El Hierro is dying. The business sector can no longer endure; the islanders will demonstrate at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Island Government Delegation headquarters.”

Planned Routes

• Gran Canaria: The march will start at 10:00 a.m. from San Telmo Park, then proceed through Triana, Lentini, Plaza Santa Ana, returning the same way via San Telmo, Venegas, Plaza de los Derechos Humanos, Murga, León and Castillo, before ending again at San Telmo Park.
• Tenerife: The route is still to be confirmed, but the demonstration will also begin at 10:00 a.m., starting from Weyler Square in the capital.
• Lanzarote: Protesters will gather at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Government Delegation in Arrecife.
• Fuerteventura: Demonstrators will meet at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Island Government’s headquarters.

Other cities across Spain scheduled for Sunday’s protests include Barcelona, Bilbao, Ceuta, Girona, Huesca, Ibiza, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, Murcia, Oviedo, Salamanca, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Tarragona and Valencia, according to the platform’s official website.

Petitions

In its manifesto, the collective reiterates long‑standing demands:

• Proportional social‑security contributions adjusted to the actual monthly income of each self‑employed worker.
• VAT exemption up to €85,000, invoking European Directive 2020/285.
• Elimination of the self‑employed’s role as tax collector for VAT and contributions.
• Comprehensive reform of the activity‑cessation scheme (the “self‑employed unemployment benefit”).
• Reduced contributions for replacements due to medical leave or family‑care responsibilities, and recognition of the right to bereavement leave.
• Social protection equivalent to that of salaried employees.
• Real simplification of administrative procedures and an end to incomprehensible bureaucratic language.
• Protection of personal assets and the family home of self‑employed workers.
• Freedom to receive cash payments and guarantee of fair competition in payment methods.
• Revision of SGAE fees, freedom to use royalty‑free music, and an immediate deduction for investments.