On 26 March 2026,, the Spanish Congress of Deputies has approved the Comprehensive Law to Promote the Social Economy, a long-awaited milestone built through broad consensus across the sector. RIPESS welcomes this new legal framework, which modernizes existing legislation, recognizes the diversity of the ecosystem, and strengthens an economic model that puts people before profit.

A historic step for a transformative economic model

The new law reinforces the role of the Social and Solidarity Economy as a decisive part of Spain’s productive system. As highlighted by the Second Vice-President and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, this is a law “built by listening to cooperatives, work‑integration enterprises, social initiative special employment centres, and so many entities that show every day that another way of doing economy is not only possible, but necessary.”

The approved text acknowledges the sector’s contribution to territorial cohesion, decent work, equality, and economic democracy, positioning the Social and Solidarity Economy as a strategic actor in an international context marked by debates over the future of social and economic models.

Key advances in the law

The Comprehensive Law to Promote the Social and Solidarity Economy introduces major improvements that strengthen the entire sector:

  • Updated regulatory framework for cooperatives, work‑integration enterprises, and other Social Economy entities.
  • First‑ever recognition of cooperative housing in use‑transfer schemes as specially protected.
  • Support for innovative models such as energy communities and fair trade.
  • Digitalization and modernization of cooperative governance, expanding digital rights and enabling more democratic participation.
  • Strengthened equality measures, including equality plans, dedicated committees, and gender‑balanced representation.
  • Protection against misuse of cooperative status, clarifying which entities belong to the Social Economy.
  • Improved regulation of work‑integration enterprises, updating definitions and reinforcing pathways to inclusion.
  • Increased reserved public procurement for work‑integration enterprises and social initiative special employment centres.

A key sector for today and tomorrow

The Social and Solidarity Economy in Spain represents more than 11% of GDP and includes over 127,000 entities generating more than 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs. Its economic and social impact shows that this model is not marginal but essential for building fairer, more resilient, and more sustainable economies.

The approval of this law is a clear recognition of that role and a commitment to expanding rights, strengthening economic democracy, and promoting enterprises that care for people and territories.