Canary Islands Government to cover up to 75% of childcare costs for self-employed workers
The Canary Islands Government has unveiled a new support package for the archipelago’s self-employed workers, including a subsidy covering up to 75% of childcare expenses. The initiative forms part of the new Plan Respaldo Autónomo, presented yesterday in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by regional vice-president and Economy Minister Manuel Domínguez.
Speaking before more than a hundred autónomos, Domínguez highlighted the government’s commitment to “boost, protect, and accompany” the entrepreneurial community with measures backed by dedicated funding.
Among the first actions to be launched is the Concilia programme, for which the Directorate General for the Self-Employed is already preparing the official guidelines. One of its key features will be a grant of up to 75%´(capped at €3,000) towards nursery and family-care expenses for children of self-employed workers.
“We want entrepreneurship in the Canary Islands to be easier, fairer, and more sustainable,” Domínguez said. “We’re introducing measures that respond to real needs: making financing accessible, supporting work-life balance, creating jobs, and providing protection during illness.”
Conciliation and Support Measures
The Concilia programme includes several lines of aid aimed at helping the self-employed balance work and family responsibilities:
- Substitute cover during maternity, paternity, or high-risk pregnancy, offering €1,100 per month for up to 8 months so businesses can hire temporary support.
- A grant of €7,500 (extendable to €9,000) for groups with greater difficulty accessing the labour market, to hire someone on a permanent contract to care for children under 12, elderly relatives, or people with disabilities or dependency for at least 12 continuous months.
- Reimbursement of up to 75% of family-care costs, including nursery fees, up to a maximum of €3,000.
Additional Support for Employment and Financing
Another measure, the +uno 52 programme, aims to promote first-time hiring of workers aged 52 or over. In addition, a 2% interest bonus, paid in a single instalment, will help amortise loans of up to €500,000 over a three-year period.
The plan also includes enhanced coverage for temporary incapacity, reimbursing 100% of the Social Security contributions up to €700 in total. These measures come alongside already active mechanisms such as the popular “cuota cero”, which eliminates Social Security payments for new autónomos under certain conditions.
Economy Minister Manuel Domínguez announcing the new measures
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