Market traders to stop work on July 1

250 self-employed businessmen from all Belarusian regions held a forum in Minsk.

Charter97.org learnt it from Anatoly Shumchanka, the head of the council of the Perspective republican organisation.

“The forum of self-employed businessmen was held in Minsk on April 7. It gathered about 250 people form the capital and regions. We discussed the current problems and adopted a resolution, which will be sent to the Belarusian authorities. The participants of the forum don't support Lukashenka's draft decree “On certain issues on business activity and selling goods by self-employed businessmen and other individuals”, which was presented by the Tax Ministry for discussion. We agree only with paragraph 2: “An individual, who wants to do business as a self-employed businessman, has the right to employ not more than three individuals under employment and/or civil law contracts,” he said.

Perspective's leader says the market traders don't want the changes proposed by the authorities.

“It's already harder for market traders to sell goods. If the new decree and rules are introduced, they will have to raise prices again. But it's not the point. All agree that market traders cannot work with certificates and covering documents from July 1. It will be unreal for 90% of them. The responsibility will lie on Prakapovich, who initiated it. There's only one way out of the situation – to leave the things as they are and not to disturb the market traders,” Anatoly Shumchanka said.

Market traders criticise the draft decree “On certain issues on business activity and selling goods by self-employed businessmen and other individuals”. They ask not to introduce the rule of compulsory covering documents for market traders finding it an impossible condition.