On November 30th, self-employed workers in Gran Canaria will take to the streets, joining those across Spain, to demand decent working conditions in a national day of action organized by the Platform for the Dignity of the Self-Employed. The demonstration, which will begin at 10:00 AM in San Telmo Park, will proceed through the city center, passing along Triana Street and Santa Ana Square, before concluding in Human Rights Square, where the National Manifesto of the Self-Employed will be read. Transportation options such as carpooling and public transport have been arranged for those in southern Gran Canaria. Here you can join the WhatsApp group created to coordinate schedules.
The message they want to convey is clear: 'For decent working conditions!' The self-employed are denouncing the constant increase in costs and fees, the lack of social protection comparable to that of salaried workers, the suffocating bureaucracy that delays aid and payments, and the accelerated disappearance of local businesses and the local economic fabric. Furthermore, they are demanding the immediate implementation of the IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax) exemption for invoices under €85.000, which is still pending implementation in accordance with the European directive.
The Platform's demands focus on five key points: fair review of fees —which by 2026 would mean increases of up to 2,5% for self-employed workers with higher incomes—, reduction of the tax burden with a progressive system, decent social protection in sick leave, retirement and maternity/paternity benefits, support for small businesses and local entrepreneurship, and elimination of bureaucratic obstacles that hinder daily activity.
The movement, peaceful, citizen-led, and independent, is not affiliated with political parties or unions and is based on Articles 21 and 22 of the Spanish Constitution. The organizers insist they are not seeking privileges but justice: “We are the ones who open our businesses every day, who keep local commerce alive, and who sustain a large part of the economy. Without the self-employed, there is no future,” they emphasize. The Platform calls on all citizens, not just the self-employed, to participate in the mobilization and support a sector that is key to the economy of Gran Canaria, whose vitality, they warn, is directly linked to the well-being of the neighborhoods and the economic activity of the island. More information about the event and meeting points can be found at [website address missing]. autonomos30n.es.
