Shumchanka: Tens of thousands of market traders may lose job due to Lukashenka's decree

Belarusian sole traders try to explain to the authorities that the requirement to obtain certificates for the goods bought at Russian markets borders on fantasy.

The draft decree of the president “On certain issues of regulation of merchandise sales by self-employed businessmen and other individuals” makes the work of tens of thousands of market traders impossible, leader of the organisation Perspective Anatol Shumchanka said to BelaPAN.

Under the new decree, market traders must have certificates confirming that the goods were bought in the Customs Union. They would be happy to have the required documents, but it seems impossible to receive them. “Traders do all the work. They bought small batches of goods on wholesale markets in Russia. Nobody gives documents for goods there. It was proved also by journalists, who visited wholesale markets in Moscow,” Shumchanka said.

He adds tens of thousands of market traders may lose their jobs if the current version of the draft decree is adopted. Decrees of the Belarusian president do not work at Moscow markets.

“We urge to prolong the discussion of the decree and include the persons representing the interests of market traders into the working group responsible for the decree,” Perspective's leader said.

In February, Lukashenka held a meeting to discuss the issues of selling goods by sole traders. He ordered the government to improve the draft decree in collaboration with market traders.

Photo: bymedia.net