Government to cover social security payments for the self-employed during sick leave
There’s good news for self-employed workers in the Canary Islands, as the regional government will now cover Social Security contributions during periods of sick leave. The measure, announced on Tuesday by Manuel Domínguez, Vice President and Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and the Self-Employed, forms part of the 2026 regional budget and aims to ease the financial burden on freelancers across the archipelago.
Under the new initiative, the Canary Islands Government will pay contributions for up to two months of temporary incapacity, providing much-needed relief for those unable to work due to illness.
“We’ve all heard that a self-employed person can’t afford to get sick because they still have to pay their dues, we want that to change,” said Domínguez.
The measure complements other existing initiatives such as the zero quota for new self-employed workers, the Observatory for the Self-Employed, and the +uno52 programme, which promotes the employment of people over 52 and will be launched before the end of the year.
Financial Support for Growth
In addition to paying Social Security during sick leave, the 2026 plan includes interest rate subsidies on loans for business investment. The goal is to help freelancers modernise, expand, and digitise their businesses by making access to credit easier and more affordable.
“This measure will allow the self-employed to take on projects that improve and grow their businesses at a lower financial cost,” Domínguez explained.
Work–Life Balance Support
The government will also strengthen its “Concilia” programme, which offers three lines of aid designed to help freelancers balance work and family life:
1. Subsidies to hire replacements during maternity or paternity leave, adoption, or pregnancy-related risk.
2. Bonuses for permanent hires to assist in caring for children under 12 or dependents.
3. Financial aid to help cover childcare or eldercare costs, such as nurseries or care homes.
Domínguez emphasised that these measures recognise the importance of the self-employed in the Canary Islands’ economy: “With 90% of our businesses being SMEs, we must support the self-employed differently than in the rest of Spain.”
The zero-quota scheme, which benefited over 3,000 self-employed workers in 2024, will also receive an increased allocation this year, rising by €800,000, from €2.5 million to €3.3 million.
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