Money needed even for going on strike?

Tax inspection in Brest is sending instructions to the markets to prevent mass absence of individual entrepreneurs from work. The entrepreneurs protest against discriminating decree№ 760.

G. Nagorny, first deputy head of the inspection on taxes and dues of the Maskouski District of Brest sent a letter to the director of the market “Yubileiny” and the head of the Council of Entrepreneurs. The letter says allegedly according to the decree №760, individual entrepreneurs must pay single tax for the first month of 2008 yet before 28 December.

“In case single tax for January isn’t be paid before the date appointed, it is strongly recommended to study the question on withdrawal contracts on leasing trading places for 2008 with individual entrepreneurs, who work at Your trading center,” Bulletin Online quotes the text.

– It’s a misunderstanding, – Viktar Chaikouski, head of the Brest department of Entrepreneurs’ Association “Perspektyva” said. – What if I go on holiday? If I want to stop work not for a month, but, for example, for 10 days?

Mr. Chaikouski states this circular is the reaction on the supposed protests of individual entrepreneurs in the next year. “They don’t want to allow strike even in the form of mass taking holiday,” he said.

– The tax inspection has turned into an unknown organisation, – one of the entrepreneurs says. – They are lifeguardsmen like in the times of Ivan the Terrible. We thought about going on strike in winter, but they called us and said who could go on holiday and who couldn’t, as if they had the right for it.”

– The Constitution guarantees the right for strike, but as we see, it’s not so easy to use it, – says Uladzimir Malei, lawyer of the Brest Department of the Radioelectronic Industry Trade Union.