The representatives of the National Confederation of Employers of Moldova say that the drafting of any normative act and any modification with impact on the entrepreneurial activity should be consulted with those who are going to implement these provisions. During a press conference, the NCEM leadership stated that the launched initiatives have a common feature: the lack of public consultations.
"Something characteristic for our society is being observed: the individual who has reached a management position often distances himself from his previous realities. And he believes that everything he would do is fair and favorable for this society. An eloquent example in this regard is the restructuring of the government, which was carried out by the previous executive and legislative. Following the central public authorities' reform, the number of ministries has been reduced, many of them being combined, having in mind the goal to lower administrative expenses”, said the president of the Confederation, Leonid Cerescu. According to him, the intention is good, yet the newly formed structures are often unable to solve multiple problems that arise in the private sector.
Leonid Cerescu added that the new government promoted several initiatives to change the legal framework, without consulting business associations and social partners. He offered the cancellation of meal vouchers and the return to 20% VAT for hospitality industry as examples. "We request the decision-makers to comply with the legal framework provided by Law 245 of 27.07.2006 on the organization and functioning of branch, territorial and national commissions for collective consultations and negotiations", said the president of NCEM.
Senior vice-president of NCEM, Vladimir Florea, president of the Employers' Association for Transporters and Roads, said that employer representatives want a real partnership with state bodies. The Transporters Union brings together more than 170 economic agents. According to him, one of the main unsolved problems in the field of passenger transportation is the tariff. The situation is critical, as the shadow market has reached 50% of the interurban and suburban market share. This constitutes the loss of more than 300 million to the budget.
The vice-president of the Confederation, Igor Crapivca, president of the Republican Club of Businessmen "Timpul", stated that the economic agents want clear, fair and predictable conditions of activity. In his opinion, the authorities must understand that the main source of revenue increase would be the legalization of the shadow economy, not tax hikes. A predictable and transparent fiscal policy would allow the legal business to compete and defeat the illegal one.
Vladislav Caminschi, executive director of the Confederation, believes that negotiations with development partners, such as the International Monetary Fund, must take place with the involvement of the private sector. "Before any negotiations between state authorities and development partners, it is normal for the authorities to consult us. Thus, after our talks, perhaps we can highlight some directions that are best to be addressed, and in the end, we will all be satisfied with the new fiscal regulations” said Vladislav Caminschi.
