Entrepreneurs on Strike

05.02.2008. Tags: entrepreneurs, strike.
Source: RFE/RL.

In Belarus a part of individual entrepreneurs continue a strike against presidential decree #760, by which they have been prohibited to hire staff with the exception of three close relatives.

‘Today is 1 February. My stall is closed, as well as many others. Still, there are people who continue working and use this situation to make profit,’ commented an activist of the campaign For Free Development of Business Viktar Kryval.

For instance, ads about vacation till 31 January hang on a considerable part of stalls at Impulse market center. However, on 1 February they were still closed.

According to the leader of the campaign For Free Development of Business Victar Harbachou, in Pinsk about a half of entrepreneurs are on strike.

‘The strike is supported by the regional businessmen and is a continuation of the mass actions in the center of Minsk that took place on 10 and 21 January. The strike shows that the problem of decree #760 remains. The regional entrepreneurs decide about the terms of their strike independently. Some of them will strike for a week, others for a fortnight or even a month,’ he said.

Being asked whether the tax ministry will persecute the strikers the representative of the press-service of the Ministry of Dues and Taxes Siarhei Shut said that it will be done only if the people will work without paying taxes and no measures will be taken in the case of strike.