The self-employed are demanding "fairer rules of the game" to boost their business

BarcelonaPimec Autónomos held its third annual Night of the Self-Employed on Monday, an event where the association's president, Elisabet Bach, advocated for "fairer rules of the game, adapted to the current reality," and for reforms to the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA) and the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) to better suit the characteristics of self-employment, as well as administrative simplification. The event was attended by more than 250 people and also featured speeches by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Alícia Romero, and the president of Pimec, Antoni Cañete. The president of Pimec Autónomos emphasized that there are 570,000 self-employed workers in Catalonia, and that 9 out of 10 Catalan businesses are micro-enterprises and self-employed individuals, with or without employees, contributing 25% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) and 20% of employment. "We are the foundation of the country's productive economy," Bach asserted. In this regard, the president urged the authorities to address the factors that "diminish the growth potential" of the self-employed, such as excessive bureaucracy and a reform of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) "that encourages savings and investment, growth, and does not penalize the self-employed when things are going well, under conditions similar to other business structures." "We also advocate limiting the liability of the self-employed, excluding essential assets from their business liability," Bach asserted. "Every self-employed person represents a life project, and we must ensure that a failure does not shatter a life."

Award Winners

During the event, held at the Old Damm Factory, six awards were presented in different categories "with the aim of highlighting the activity of this group as a key factor for socioeconomic growth, as well as in the creation of wealth and employment." Furthermore, the organization wanted to recognize the values that characterize self-employed professionals, such as effort, dedication, resilience, local roots, and constant adaptation. The following awards were given: Àngels Gonyalons, actress, singer, and dancer, received recognition for her professional career; the Manlleu Economic Promotion Office received recognition for its support of the self-employed community; Gemma Arnillas and Jordi Terès received recognition for their local roots for their commitment to the region through the Pla Oví project; and Albert Martos received recognition for innovation for Amgitec Projectes. Recognition of family tradition and generational succession to Rafael Balsells for the continuity of the Ferreria Balsells family project, and recognition of the capacity for reinvention in Montserrat Ramos and Joel Dorado for The CoMaking Space.