The TU+1 programme, endowed with €13.9 million, subsidises the permanent hiring of unemployed individuals by self-employed without employees with up to €22,320. Applications are now open until July 29.
The Government of Catalonia opened this Monday the new call for the TU+1 programme, which allocates €13.9 million to subsidise the permanent hiring of unemployed individuals by self-employed without employees. The maximum aid for each full-time hire amounts to €22,320, an amount aimed at encouraging the growth of sole proprietorships.
Applications can be submitted from 9:00 AM today until July 29 at 2:00 PM through the Canal Empresa (canalempresa.gencat.cat) or Trámites (tramits.gencat.cat) portals. The programme, managed by the Department of Business and Labour, allows hiring up to two unemployed individuals registered as job seekers with the Public Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC).
Requirements and conditions of the TU+1 aid
The subsidy is aimed at self-employed individuals and single-member limited companies that do not have any employees at the time of application nor have had any in the previous six months. Additionally, they must have been registered for at least one uninterrupted year in the special self-employed regime (RETA) or registered in the Mercantile Registry, as applicable.
The contract must be permanent and the hired individual must remain in the position for a minimum of 18 months for the self-employed to receive the full aid. The hiring can be full-time or part-time (equal to or greater than 50%), and in the latter case, the amount is reduced proportionally. The deadline to formalise the contract is three months from the granting of the aid.
Objective: reduce unemployment and strengthen self-employment
The TU+1 programme pursues a dual objective: on one hand, promote the permanent hiring of unemployed individuals; on the other, support the growth of self-employed businesses that have sufficient activity but hesitate to take the step of hiring. According to government data, there are more than 500,000 self-employed individuals in Catalonia, a significant portion of whom operate without employees.
For self-employed individuals who decide to hire, the aid represents a significant economic relief: the €22,320 per contract covers a large part of the salary and Social Security costs during the initial months. Furthermore, permanent hiring offers stability to the worker and improves business productivity.
How to apply for the subsidy step by step
Applications are processed exclusively online. The self-employed individual must access Canal Empresa or the electronic headquarters of the Generalitat, identify themselves with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, and fill out the specific form for the TU+1 programme. It is necessary to attach documentation proving registration in the RETA or in the Mercantile Registry, as well as the identification of the unemployed individual to be hired.
The application deadline ends on July 29 at 2:00 PM, so interested parties have approximately two and a half months to prepare their application. The resolution will be communicated within a maximum period of six months, although the administration assures that they will try to expedite payments.
To resolve doubts, the Department of Business and Labour has set up a helpline and a practical guide on its website. Self-employed individuals who meet the requirements should submit their application as soon as possible, as the €13.9 million allocation is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
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