30 December 2007
Lukashenka defends policy toward sole entrepreneurs

Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Sunday defended the government’s restrictive policy toward sole entrepreneurs.

Small business owners holding the status of sole entrepreneur will be banned from having workers other than three family members after January 1, 2008.

While talking to reporters outside Minsk, the Belarusian leader said that the government sought to create equal business conditions for sole entrepreneurs and legal entities.

“We will create absolutely equal taxation conditions,” official information sources quoted him as saying. “Everyone will pay the same amount in taxes.”

Commenting on the employee restriction, Mr. Lukashenka said, “What have we done? If you work alone, import, sell [goods] and enjoy preferences. We have even allowed them to hire close relatives. What is so bad about this? Nothing, I guess.”

Mr. Lukashenka claimed that sole entrepreneurs were involved in tax evasion schemes. “Many have started to import goods for themselves through these sole entrepreneurs who enjoy preferences. A criminal environment has appeared. But nevertheless, we have offered them a reprieve. Ok, continue as sole entrepreneurs for a while, hire relatives and enjoy preferences. You don’t like this? You will have the same conditions [that companies have] in a year,” he was quoted as saying. //BelaPAN