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Self-employed workers in the Region of Murcia are set to get a welcome bit of breathing space when it comes to sick leave, thanks to a new measure announced this week.

 

The regional government has confirmed it will cover social security contributions for autónomos during the first two months they are off work due to illness or an accident. The support will come in the form of a direct payment of up to €700 per person.

 

Fernando López Miras said the move is designed to tackle a long-standing issue for the self-employed, who often still have to pay into the system even when they are not earning.

 

“Thanks to the Government of the Region of Murcia, the self-employed will be able to take sick leave,” he said.

 

He added that the measure means they will not have to continue paying contributions at a time when their income has stopped.

 

“It is a fair initiative that addresses a real concern, as it protects them in a vulnerable time,” he explained during a session in the Regional Assembly.

 

The scheme is currently being finalised and is expected to open for applications in the coming weeks. It will have a budget of €2 million and could benefit more than 106,000 self-employed workers across the Region, the highest number ever recorded locally.

 

The regional president also took aim at the central government, criticising what he described as the “mistreatment” of self-employed workers and arguing that the current national model penalises those who generate jobs and economic activity.

 

For many autónomos, who often feel they get the short end of the stick, the new measure is likely to be seen as a step in the right direction.

 

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