Meatmen picket Parliament again
https://www.ipn.md/en/meatmen-picket-parliament-again-7967_969922.html
Meat vendors from markets again picketed the Parliament building on Monday, June 2. The protesters have again sent letters to the Parliament and the Government demanding to be allowed to work on patent basis, Info-Prim Neo reports.
The vendors complain the fiscal inspectors apply them fines up to 6,000 lei. The ones obeying the legislation and starting individual companies complain they were misled as to this form of activity and now they cannot cope with the conditions they are impelled.
The protesters' intention to picket the Presidential Palace has failed. The police have hindered them to go there reasoning that the protest should have been announced five days before, according to the law.
The vendors vow to protest until the problem is solved in their favor. Social Democrat parliamentarian Dumitru Godoroja has promised to make an interpellation to the Fiscal Inspectorate asking for explanations as to the behavior of fiscal inspectors.
The commerce based on patents in Moldova was gradually banned from January 1, 2007. The Government argues this system is a kind of fiscal evasion stimulating the black economy. The patent merchants repeatedly have expressed their disagreement as to the interdictions to work on a patent basis and have organized as many as 130 protests, asking to cancel the restriction.
On May 29, the Parliament passed a series of amendments to the Law on entrepreneurship patent. The new redaction of the law allows, till January 1, 2017, the retail commerce at counters, booths and cars only in markets or places authorized by local administrations. The condition is that their incomes shall not exceed 300,000 lei annually. At the same time, the law forbids to sell, on patent basis, body linen, haberdashery, electrical appliances, doors, windows and building materials.
The law allows only farmers to sell meat. The other vendors, including the ones selling imported meat, shall start individual businesses.
Now the monthly patent tax is 190 lei in towns, 90 lei in districts and 50 lei in villages. According to the modifications approved of by the Government on April 16, the patent commerce is allowed till 2017.
