ANC SAYS READY TO STAND BY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AGAINST CONTROVERSIAL TAX LAW
NEWS | 30.09.14 | 12:08
http://www.armenianow.com/news/57225/armenia_small_traders_armenian_national_congress
The Armenian National Congress (ANC) has issued a statement voicing
its support for the struggle of small and medium-sized business owners
against controversial amendments to the law on sales tax that are
due to come into effect on October 1.
The opposition party says "the changes put tens of thousands of people
engaged in small and medium-sized businesses in a desperate situation."
Hundreds of mostly small traders have held protests near the buildings
of the government and the National Assembly since last week demanding
that the changes be scrapped.
The government insists that the new law that envisages a reduction of
the sales tax from the current 3.5 to just 1 percent is in favor of
small and medium-sized enterprises, but owners of these enterprises
say they'd rather continue paying the current tax but be saved from
the additional paper work that the new law requires.
Retail traders also complain that by requiring additional documentation
from them the government effectively uses them as a tool in combating
tax evasion by larger businesses, something that they believe is
unfair and unacceptable.
In its statement today the ANC also referred to reports about
detentions by police of several protesting traders and demanded prompt
action from the prosecutor general to ensure that "those who take
illegal action against citizens struggling for their constitutional
rights be called to account."
"The ANC welcomes the citizens who have come up in support of their
rights and is ready to stand by the representatives of small and
medium-sized enterprises in the matter of protecting their interests,"
the statement reads, in particular.
Representatives of two parliamentary minority factions, including
the ANC, launched a petition on Monday for a special debate on the
situation to be held in the National Assembly.
NEWS | 30.09.14 | 12:08
http://www.armenianow.com/news/57225/armenia_small_traders_armenian_national_congress
The Armenian National Congress (ANC) has issued a statement voicing
its support for the struggle of small and medium-sized business owners
against controversial amendments to the law on sales tax that are
due to come into effect on October 1.
The opposition party says "the changes put tens of thousands of people
engaged in small and medium-sized businesses in a desperate situation."
Hundreds of mostly small traders have held protests near the buildings
of the government and the National Assembly since last week demanding
that the changes be scrapped.
The government insists that the new law that envisages a reduction of
the sales tax from the current 3.5 to just 1 percent is in favor of
small and medium-sized enterprises, but owners of these enterprises
say they'd rather continue paying the current tax but be saved from
the additional paper work that the new law requires.
Retail traders also complain that by requiring additional documentation
from them the government effectively uses them as a tool in combating
tax evasion by larger businesses, something that they believe is
unfair and unacceptable.
In its statement today the ANC also referred to reports about
detentions by police of several protesting traders and demanded prompt
action from the prosecutor general to ensure that "those who take
illegal action against citizens struggling for their constitutional
rights be called to account."
"The ANC welcomes the citizens who have come up in support of their
rights and is ready to stand by the representatives of small and
medium-sized enterprises in the matter of protecting their interests,"
the statement reads, in particular.
Representatives of two parliamentary minority factions, including
the ANC, launched a petition on Monday for a special debate on the
situation to be held in the National Assembly.