Spain today, minus the noise

1️⃣ Side gigs may require autónomo registration, court rules

A Supreme Court ruling (941/2025) says habitual economic activity can require registration in the RETA even if income falls below the SMI. Lawyer Xavi Abat explains this covers recurring Wallapop sales, periodic commission work, and monetising a Twitch channel. Billing less than the monthly minimum wage does not, by itself, exempt anyone. The ruling expands the obligation to pay self-employed social security contributions to anyone with informal income sources. - El Confidencial

2️⃣ Spain threatens legal action over migrant minors, EU holds crisis debate

A week after 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco, the Spanish government says 70,000 have been returned but up to 6,000 may remain on the streets. Many unaccompanied minors must be distributed under 2025 regulations, and First Vice President Carlos Cuerpo warned that regions refusing to host them will face court action. Meanwhile, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee will hold an extraordinary session on Thursday, requested by the PP, with EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and Ceuta’s president Juan Jesús Vivas attending. - 20 Minutos

3️⃣ Immigrant regularization distorts Spain’s employment stats

Social Security has surpassed 22.5 million affiliates and unemployment stands at around 2.3 million, its lowest level since 2007. Experts warn that the labor reform and mass regularization of immigrants have changed how these figures should be read, making historical comparisons less straightforward. Temporary employment has fallen: 40% of monthly contracts are now permanent, with a private-sector permanent rate of 12.3% while the public sector stays above 27%. The Bank of Spain and AIReF urge caution when interpreting classic stability indicators. - El Mundo

4️⃣ Spain weighs forgiving IMV overpayment debts

The Social Security ministry is promoting a law to allow forgiveness of debts arising from improper minimum income benefit (IMV) payments received in 2024 and 2025. Over €500 million has been claimed back, and nearly 320,000 repayment files have been processed. The move comes after NGO ATD Cuarto Mundo triggered a Council of Europe investigation, alleging violations of the European Social Charter. Low-income IMV recipients could see relief from outstanding overpayment debts. - El Diario

5️⃣ Spain to charge bottle deposit in bars and shops from November

From November 2026, a deposit return system (SDDR) will apply to plastic bottles, glass containers and aluminium cans. Consumers will pay around 10 cents per container, refunded when the container is returned. The EU requires a collection rate of at least 70% for these waste items, but Spain only collected 41.3% of single-use plastic bottles in 2023. The measure aims to boost recycling and avoid EU fines, directly changing daily shopping habits. - Heraldo

6️⃣ Ibex 35 hits record high above 20,000 points

Spain’s Ibex 35 closed on Wednesday at 20,057 points, consolidating a rally of more than 40% over the last year. Gains were driven by banks and better-than-expected corporate results. The previous record near 16,000 points from 2007 was surpassed nearly a year ago. People with savings, pensions or investment exposure in Spanish assets are seeing the effect of this long bull run. - El Diario

7️⃣ Chinese car brands take 14.27% of the Spanish market

In July, Chinese-controlled brands reached a record 14.27% of passenger car sales in Spain, with 107,008 registrations out of the 749,656 units sold from January to July. More than 30 brands have entered the market in about two years, backed by manufacturers such as SAIC, BYD, Chery and Geely. The growing presence brings more choice and price competition for anyone buying a car in Spain. - El Diario

💬 Do you think selling on Wallapop should mean paying autónomo fees? 🤔