Entrepreneurs Require to Abolish Shops With Confiscated Goods

The government should stop practicing fulfillment of the budget through confiscation methods.

Individual entrepreneurs (IEs) of Minsk and regions require to take into consideration their position when developing the legislation which relates to business in Belarus. According to BelaPAN, the final resolution of entrepreneurs' forum held on June 13 by Perspective public association involves such requirement.

Its participants believe that the government should recognize small private business and IEs as the "ground for mid-size and large business", essential factor for "development of the economy in the crisis."

Following this, decisions of executive and legislative power affecting business should be adopted "only with due consideration to the opinion, interests and consent of entrepreneurs themselves and based on consultations with business community." Entrepreneurs "should have the right of veto."

Thus, business interests should be put before interests of bureaucrats. "Fulfillment of duties by state employees should be aimed at assistance and support of business in implementation of economic activity not prohibited by the law," participants of the forum said.

In their turn, regulatory bodies should focus on "assistance to business by fair compliance to norms of legislation, implementation of technical, proactive not punitive function."

"Inviolability of property involved in domestic activity" must be guaranteed to businessmen, the authorities must discontinue "the practice of confiscation of goods".

According to participants in the forum, representatives of Perspective should become members of the President's Council on Business Development, as well as public advisory councils in ministries to "control rule-making affecting interests of IEs."

A patent system for IEs must be put in practice "according to analogy with that in the Russian Federation aiming at maximum simplification of business management for IEs".

There is a need to decrease "penalty sanctions for business", confiscation of goods must be discontinued if "their criminal origin is not proved." Entrepreneurs require to "stop fulfillment of the budget through confiscation methods" and eliminate networks of stores of confiscated goods.

Forum's participants believe that Decree No. 87 from February 21, 2014 must be amended to let IEs to pay the single tax to the NSSF proceeding from the number of working days, and those working under the simplified taxation system - 35% of minimum living wage.

Provisions of Decree No. 48 "On State Control for Compliance with Regulations," which relate to "administrative liability of IEs engaged in retail for violation of requirements of regulations of the Customs Union, the Eurasian Economic Union", should be abolished.

Forum's participants also demand to postpone signing of Decree "On Tax Consulting" and put it on discussion in business unions and interested business structures". According to them, this draft decree does not fully "comply with business interests."

Other forum is scheduled for September 5. However, Perspective makes emergency forum possible, if the situation in business deteriorates.

It should be reminded that this February entrepreneurs held three mass protest actions in Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.