When you run a business on your own, a quiet month does not mean the bills stop arriving. Rent, supplies, tax paperwork and social security contributions still need paying, even when customers are thin on the ground. For people starting out, those fixed costs can make the difference between getting a business off the ground and deciding it simply is not worth the risk.

Now, Spain’s main self-employed workers’ association wants political parties to consider a package of changes that would cut some of those costs, reduce paperwork and improve protection when business owners become ill or can no longer work.

The National Federation of Associations of Self-Employed Workers (ATA), led by Lorenzo Amor, has sent parties a list of 10 proposals ahead of Spain’s elections on 29 November. The organisation says the changes are needed because 63.2 per cent of self-employed workers earn less than the national minimum wage. 

New autónomos could pay no social security for two years

One of the central proposals is a zero-euro social security contribution for the first two years of self-employment. ATA wants the exemption extended to three years for people under 30, women starting a business after maternity, and workers whose earnings fall below the minimum wage. Students under 30 who run a business while completing formal education or vocational training would pay a proposed €30 a month throughout their course.

For established autónomos earning below the minimum wage, ATA also wants contribution reductions over two years. Depending on income, the proposed discounts would range from 15 to 75 per cent, funded through the state budget. 

VAT exemption for businesses earning under €85,000

Small businesses could also see a change to how they charge and declare VAT. ATA wants workers with annual turnover below €85,000 to be able to opt out of charging VAT to customers, alongside replacing quarterly VAT returns with a single annual declaration.

The proposal would bring Spain closer to the arrangements available to small businesses in several other EU countries. A separate proposal would allow businesses with cross-border transactions to qualify for the VAT scheme up to a turnover of €100,000. ATA is also calling for changes to deductible business expenses, including allowing 50 per cent of certain vehicle, utility and meal costs to be deducted for income tax and VAT purposes without having to justify each expense individually. 

More support during illness, maternity and business closures

The proposals go beyond tax and contributions. ATA wants self-employed workers to have better access to support when their income collapses or they have to close a business.

It proposes easing the conditions for receiving the cessation-of-activity benefit when income falls, and making the benefit automatic in certain permanent closures. It also wants the unemployment subsidy available to people over 52 extended to autónomos who have exhausted their cessation-of-activity payments.

For pregnancy and childcare, the organisation is calling for subsidised cover so a replacement can be hired and trained before a worker takes maternity leave. It also wants two extra weeks of leave for breastfeeding, more flexible maternity leave and greater flexibility for returning to work after the initial period of leave. Self-employed people caring for a seriously ill or disabled family member could also receive a full contribution discount, up from the current 75 per cent, under the plan. 

Changes to contributions and retirement

ATA wants planned increases in self-employed contributions frozen until 2030, with contribution bases set annually through the state budget process. It is also seeking changes to the rules for active retirement, which allows people to keep working while receiving part of their pension.

Under its proposal, autónomos without employees would gradually receive a larger share of their pension while working, reaching 100 per cent in the fourth year. Those with at least one employee, partner or collaborator would be able to receive the full pension from the first day. Other requests include improved pension-plan tax deductions, incentives for hiring younger workers and a simpler route out of debt for people whose businesses fail.

The package also calls for less administrative red tape, including a single online portal for business owners, a first-warning approach to certain mistakes before financial penalties are imposed, and fewer official notifications outside normal working hours.  The proposals would affect costs, tax obligations and social protection for autónomos across Spain. Their impact will depend on which measures, if any, political parties choose to adopt.

Drivers heading to Western Beach in Gibraltar could soon have to pay to park, with vehicles carrying Gibraltar number plates set to be exempt from the planned charges. The new system is expected to come into force in 2027, meaning motorists arriving in cars registered outside the Rock could face an additional cost when visiting the beach.

The government has not yet confirmed how much parking will cost or when the charges will begin. The plan was revealed by Transport Minister John Cortes in Parliament, following a question from opposition MP Giovanni Origo about parking arrangements at Western Beach.

Foreign-registered cars to pay for parking

Under the proposed scheme, parking at Western Beach will operate on a pay-and-display basis, with vehicles registered in Gibraltar exempt from payment. That means the distinction will be based on the vehicle’s registration plate rather than simply where its driver lives. A resident driving a car registered outside Gibraltar could therefore be affected, while a Gibraltar-registered vehicle would qualify for the exemption.

The government has yet to publish the full details of the scheme, including the tariff, operating hours and the number of parking spaces that will be covered. For motorists who regularly cross the border from Spain to spend time at Western Beach, the change could make an otherwise straightforward visit more expensive. However, until the charges are confirmed, drivers cannot yet calculate what the new arrangements will mean for their regular trips.

Why is Gibraltar introducing the charges?

The proposal comes amid concerns about parking availability around Western Beach, where demand for spaces can create difficulties for people visiting the area. Western Beach lies on Gibraltar’s western coast, close to the frontier with Spain. Its location makes it accessible to people travelling from both sides of the border, putting pressure on the limited parking available nearby. The planned charges would introduce a different arrangement for motorists depending on whether their vehicles are registered in Gibraltar or elsewhere.

The government has not yet provided a detailed explanation of how the money raised will be used or whether the scheme is intended primarily to manage demand, generate revenue or achieve both aims. Those details will be important for drivers trying to understand the reasoning behind the new rules, particularly if the charges apply to visitors who already contribute to the local economy when they come to Gibraltar.

Questions remain over the new parking rules

Although the government has indicated that the system is planned for 2027, several practical questions remain unanswered. The first is the price. Without a published tariff, it is not yet clear whether motorists will face a small fee for a short visit or a more substantial charge for spending several hours at the beach.

The government has also yet to clarify whether there will be different rates for different lengths of stay, how payment will be made or whether any additional exemptions will apply. For drivers using Western Beach regularly, the availability of alternative parking will also be a consideration. If nearby spaces are already in short supply, motorists may have limited options if they wish to avoid the new charges. 

What the new rules mean for cross-border drivers

The announcement also raises questions for people who own vehicles registered in Spain or elsewhere but live or work in Gibraltar. Under the arrangement described so far, it is the registration of the vehicle, rather than the nationality or residence of the driver, that determines whether payment is required. Until the government publishes the full rules, motorists should not assume that any exemptions beyond those for Gibraltar-registered vehicles will be available.

For now, the change remains a plan for 2027 rather than a charge drivers must pay immediately. The next step will be for the Gibraltar Government to confirm the implementation date and publish the practical details, including prices and payment arrangements. For anyone who regularly uses Western Beach, those details will determine how much the new parking system affects their visits.

For those of us who have lived in Spain for a while, it’s almost inevitable that we fall into the rhythm of the seasons. We start looking forward to different foods, pick up local traditions and find ourselves craving meals we might never have considered before moving here. Suddenly, the arrival of autumn isn’t just about cooler evenings and digging out a jumper; it’s about what goes on the dinner table, too.

From seasonal food traditions in Granada to comforting meals enjoyed in mountain villages and the countryside, residents across southern Spain have been sharing the dishes that make autumn feel like autumn. Some have fully embraced local specialities, while others have discovered unexpected favourites along the way.

When rain means ‘migas’ in Granada

Leslie, who has lived in Granada for over a decade tells us that where she lives, rainy weather means migas, a traditional Spanish dish made with flour or bread, depending on the region. Often served with a mixture of sweet and savoury accompaniments, it’s a simple, filling meal with plenty of regional variations.

‘It’s a custom here to have migas made with flour whenever it rains. I’ve grown so used to it that I actually miss it when visiting family in England. It can be had with chorizo, melon and boquerones (anchovies) or sardines. I adore the dish and I would definitely call it one of my favourite comfort foods.’

Steve, also from Granada, looks forward to wild boar stew, a seasonal favourite in the surrounding countryside. Slow cooking makes the meat tender and creates a rich sauce, perfect for mopping up with bread. ‘I love the jabalí (wild boar) in a stew. It’s a dish they do here in the Sierra, and it’s only around this time of year you can eat it. Served with some bread for mopping up the sauce and a warm log fire in a venta (traditional country inn), and I’m complete.’

A taste of autumn beyond gazpacho

Ingrid 67, lives in Mijas, Málaga, has found a seasonal favourite that offers a change from Spain’s famous chilled summer soups. Her choice is a warm tomato soup made with local ingredients. ‘I really enjoy the Spanish version they do here in Mijas of tomato soup. It’s the autumn version of gazpacho; it’s warm, comforting and made with local tomatoes, peppers, onions, bread, garlic and asparagus. It’s a dish that, for me, welcomes the cooler months’.

While gazpacho is served cold, warm soups become appealing as temperatures fall. Málaga has its own traditional options, including gazpachuelo, a warm soup traditionally made with fish broth and a mayonnaise-based sauce.

Lentils with a meaty twist

Mateus who is 36 and  lives in Cádiz, welcomes autumn with lentejas con pringá (lentils with leftover meats). Lentils are a staple of Spanish home cooking, often simmered with vegetables, potatoes or meat. Adding leftover cooked meats, usually from stews made the day before, makes this version particularly filling.

‘I welcome autumn with lentejas con pringá. It’s like your regular Spanish lentil dish but with leftover meats from other meals, such as pork, tocino (fatback), chorizo and morcilla (black pudding) cooked into it. It gets the body prepared for winter!’

Chestnut stew and seafood by the sea

Kerry, has been living in Aguadulce, Almería, for the past 4 years and finds it difficult to settle on just one autumn favourite. One takes her into the mountains, while the other brings her back to the coast. ‘My favourite autumn meal, that makes me feel like autumn is really here, is potaje de castañas (sweet chestnut stew). We take a drive up to the Alpujarra for it. It’s healthy, heart-warming and comforting.’

Chestnuts are a seasonal favourite in parts of Spain, particularly in mountainous areas. Their natural sweetness makes them well suited to savoury stews, giving traditional potaje a distinctive flavour. For Kerry, the journey to the Almeria side of the Alpujarra is part of the experience. Her second choice takes her to Cabo de Gata, where the ingredients reflect Almería’s coastal setting.

‘I also like visiting Cabo de Gata for their traditional caldo quemao (burnt broth). It’s also a stew but this time with potato, sardines, garlic, tomato and peppers. That’s my autumn surf ‘n’ turf.’ With sardines, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers, caldo quemao brings together familiar ingredients in a warming coastal dish, offering a different kind of comfort from the stews found in the mountains.

The autumn dessert that surprised a sceptic

Mike and Susan, have lived in Torrox for more than seven years, have different favourites. Mike admits that trying unfamiliar food doesn’t come naturally to him, but one autumn discovery changed his mind. ‘I’m not one for trying new things. I’m kind of stuck in my ways, I guess you could say. But what surprised me, and what I actually enjoyed, was roasted sweet potato or boniato as they call it here. It really was a bit of an unexpected food, which they have here as a dessert in autumn.’

Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes, making them a simple seasonal dessert as well as a versatile ingredient for savoury dishes. Susan prefers a more substantial option: puchero de garbanzos (chickpea stew), a traditional dish found in different forms across Andalusia. Chickpeas are often slowly cooked with vegetables and meat to create a filling broth. ‘It’s definitely got to be the puchero de garbanzos for me. Lovely dish, very filling and nice to enjoy whilst warming your feet by the heater under the table.’

Nothing beats a meal at a local venta

Johnathan, from Berja, Almería, tells us that autumn isn’t about one particular recipe. It’s about the welcoming atmosphere of a local venta, where the menu depends on what’s being cooked that day.

These country restaurants are known for comfort food, unfussy meals, with dishes ranging from rabbit, venison to steak and slow-cooked stews. ‘Oh, for me, it’s any venta food. There is nothing more homely and welcoming than eating at your local venta when the weather turns bad, a nice glass of wine and whatever they are cooking that day, rabbit, kid, steak… Nothing beats it.’

The flavours and traditions that make autumn special

Autumn in Spain brings its own flavours, whether it’s a dish you’ve grown up with, something you tried on a rainy afternoon or a meal that gives you an excuse to escape to the mountains. Sometimes, the best part isn’t what’s on the plate, but the memories and traditions that come with it.

What about you? Which dish makes you feel that autumn has finally arrived in Spain? Is it a traditional Spanish stew, roasted chestnuts on a chilly evening or something completely different that you’ve come to love since living here?