Andrei Tur: It's too early to call it a strike of entrepreneurs
Small-size entrepreneurs are not striking. They are resting, the European Radio for Belarus has learned. In the first week of the New Year, Belarusians have faced the problems, buying food at markets or boarding taxi vans as many small-size business owners keep their operations closed. Should we regard this situation as a strike of entrepreneurs? Even Katsyaryna Chyzhyk, the chairperson of the entrepreneurs' council of the Europe and Parking trade centers in Minsk, does not have an answer:
“Just 50 percent of the outlets are open. It is very hard to understand. One day they say that they are striking. On the other day, they say they are off, busy processing the paperwork. I don't have exact information. They just wrote on their doors that the shop is closed "for technical reasons".
Katsyaryna Chyzhyk could not tell us exactly how many entrepreneurs went on a leave. But at the Chervensky Market in Minsk, administrators said that nearly everyone opened up for business:
“Almost everyone showed up. Some went on a leave and are not paying for their spots. You know, January is not a good month for making money. Therefore, many entrepreneurs do not trade in January. Otherwise, we don't have any problems here”.
As for taxi vans, the problems are only on the routes operated by sole entrepreneurs, according to Valer Sasinouski from the Metropolitan Transport and Communications, a state-owned company. The problem is mainly associated with the re-registration of documents:
“It is not that simple. You'd better ask the Traffic Police why they re-register number plates only once a week. People also need time to obtaine their social security numbers and to open a bank account… This requires at least four days. It means that some entrepreneurs do not work for one week. Nobody is striking, come on!”
Mr Sasinouski assured the European Radio for Belarus that the situation with taxi vans would soon be resolved. It is not that critical even today:
“Actually, I have had just two calls from passengers today regarding this issue. They complained that the vehicles would arrive a bit later than usually. Everything will be back on track soon. Even if there are some problems, we can talk only about just several routes".
Belarus's Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Tur also thinks that it is still early to talk about a strike until Janaury 10. So far, these are just rumors:
“I think that these rumors are not circulated by entrepreneurs. They are issued by those who need them. I don't rule out a situation that someone has started spinning himself off, promoting a political platform and own ambitions. There is no strike. It will be on January 10 when they will be calling for a strike. Let's see then”.
It seems that the closed trading outlets mean that entrepreneurs are resting. We could call it a strike only when entrepreneurs get out to the streets.
“Just 50 percent of the outlets are open. It is very hard to understand. One day they say that they are striking. On the other day, they say they are off, busy processing the paperwork. I don't have exact information. They just wrote on their doors that the shop is closed "for technical reasons".
Katsyaryna Chyzhyk could not tell us exactly how many entrepreneurs went on a leave. But at the Chervensky Market in Minsk, administrators said that nearly everyone opened up for business:
“Almost everyone showed up. Some went on a leave and are not paying for their spots. You know, January is not a good month for making money. Therefore, many entrepreneurs do not trade in January. Otherwise, we don't have any problems here”.
As for taxi vans, the problems are only on the routes operated by sole entrepreneurs, according to Valer Sasinouski from the Metropolitan Transport and Communications, a state-owned company. The problem is mainly associated with the re-registration of documents:
“It is not that simple. You'd better ask the Traffic Police why they re-register number plates only once a week. People also need time to obtaine their social security numbers and to open a bank account… This requires at least four days. It means that some entrepreneurs do not work for one week. Nobody is striking, come on!”
Mr Sasinouski assured the European Radio for Belarus that the situation with taxi vans would soon be resolved. It is not that critical even today:
“Actually, I have had just two calls from passengers today regarding this issue. They complained that the vehicles would arrive a bit later than usually. Everything will be back on track soon. Even if there are some problems, we can talk only about just several routes".
Belarus's Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Tur also thinks that it is still early to talk about a strike until Janaury 10. So far, these are just rumors:
“I think that these rumors are not circulated by entrepreneurs. They are issued by those who need them. I don't rule out a situation that someone has started spinning himself off, promoting a political platform and own ambitions. There is no strike. It will be on January 10 when they will be calling for a strike. Let's see then”.
It seems that the closed trading outlets mean that entrepreneurs are resting. We could call it a strike only when entrepreneurs get out to the streets.
