29 March 2024, Friday, 18:04
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

"Greed of The Authorities Turn Clothes And Footwear for Belarusians Into Gold"

69
"Greed of The Authorities Turn Clothes And Footwear for Belarusians Into Gold"

Will second hand shops be banned in Belarus?

Chairman of Bellegprom Tatstsiana Lunhina says that second-hand trade requires additional regulation in Belarus.

"We should learn the second hand phenomenon in the market of Belarus. Conditions of entry of the product, its classification and inventory, which can really be classified as second hand. What customs duties are they subject to? We will expand the issue to understand what we need to do to prevent this dynamics from progressing", the head of the State Concern said.

What consequences may it bear for Belarusian traders and consumers of cheap clothing?

Charter97.org asked the representative of the Belarusian National Congress in Slonim, individual entrepreneur Viktar Marchyk about it.

- Why has second hand attracted attention of the head of the State Concern?

- I think officials have found out that people buy second-hand clothes and owners of these shops are now "the last Mogikans" among the Belarusian IEs, who make a profit.

And then primitive state greed has worked out: if you still have money, then we're going to you.

The second reason is that people have miserable salaries and there is not enough space for everyone in the clothing market. "Bellegprom just can't compete with IEs.

By the way, it has already made a stir in our city. Today I have talked to ordinary people and they have told me that they would like to buy clothes in boutiques and not in second-hand shops, but they could do it.

Most people now have enough money only to pay for utilities, which have gone up in price, and to buy in food. And people spend their last money to dress up. Nobody looks at the quality, the main thing it should be cheap.

As a public activist, among other things, I also volunteer. We help poor people with used things. Our entrepreneurs and those who have a better situation give us things, and we deliver them and give them to those who need them.

And I can say that a great number of people cannot afford to buy even used clothes and shoes. They cannot get clothes, especially in rural areas, and they are very grateful when they get such support.

Therefore, it is just nonsense to say that the work of second-hand shops should be regulated. It is disrespect for people who are driven in such a state by the authorities.

- Does the statement of the head of Bellegprom mean that second-hands can be banned in Belarus at all?

- I think they won't ban them. There is another goal pursued by the authorities. Second-hand shops will face the same fate as kiosks at stops. First, they destroyed the entrepreneurs who owned them, and then replaced them with Tobacco shops of Lukashenka's friend - businessman Aleksin.

I think they want to do the same with second-hand shops. Conditions for IEs will be unbearable and then it will be a forced takeover.

They behave as usual: if you have a headache, it should not be treated. Your head will be just cut off. If they see that people don't buy Belarusian goods, the authorities don't want to analyze it and try to raise salaries. Why? Then they might give up on new palaces and 100-meters of hospital wards with golden toilets. It is easier to take everything away.

- What do you think about customs duties?

- I think it's stupidity. How can an individual entrepreneur not pay the duty? Does he put these things in socks? Used clothes from Europe are brought in trucks. It's not a mouse, how can it get through customs?

Most likely, they will just raise customs duties for individual entrepreneurs. Prices, accordingly, will also increase for consumers. And then, when entrepreneurs go bankrupt and surrender their business, officials will return previous customs duties.

- Will Bellegprom's monopoly cause higher prices for clothes and footwear in Belarus?

- I think so. As well as any monopoly and lack of competition. We have already experienced it many times. But when did the authorities think about people? So we expect huge prices for clothes and footwear.

The structure of the authorities is that an official at every level, starting from the very top, thinks only about how to support his family at the expense of ordinary people.

Prices for clothes and footwear will be easily raised. Perhaps the scenario has already stipulated it. As well as the scenario with a denomination. They have deceived people. Lukashenka swore that prices would not rise after the denomination, and many products have risen in price at least 10 times! The most common example is butter. Before denomination, it cost 3 thousand rubles, now - 3 rubles. But this is 30 thousand!

The same will happen with clothes and footwear. The monopolist will determine its conditions in the market.

- How would you comment on the fact that the head of Bellegprom explained her claims to second-hand shops and IEs with the desire to make people "buy Belarusian goods"?

- Officials, starting from the very top, have repeatedly urged us to "buy Belarusian goods".

Why do they drive Maybach instead of Jeely, wear Patek Philippe instead of Lutch? Let them first look at themselves and their relatives. Each of them wears good, imported things.

Are ordinary Belarusians to blame for inability of officials to run state-owned enterprises properly? Their products are dull, gloomy, and not eye-catchy...

Therefore, people won't be forced to "buy Belarusian goods" by any means. Let them just learn how to produce competitive goods. It means it should be affordable, of high-quality, cheap and eye-catchy.

- And what will happen to IEs in case of strengthening of Bellegrprom monopoly?

- They will simply join the army of the unemployed, so called "parasites". The share of unemployed and really angry people in the country will grow.

Write your comment 69

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts