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FROM
CUBA
Tax authorities impose further restrictions
on self-employed 4i1q7
HAVANA, August 1 (Reinaldo Cosano Aln
/ cubanet.sergipeconectado.com) - Cuba's tax authority,
the National Tributary Office (ONAT), has
issued new regulations for the self-employed
which many here say will only tend to put
many of them out of business.
At first glance, the most onerous of the
new regulations seems to be a new requirement
that all self-employed hold down a job with
the State and only practice the trade or
business for which they are licensed after
working hours.
"The most irritating thing is they
tell us about these new restrictions all
of a sudden," said self-employed worker
Alberto Surez. "They give us
from July 8 to August 1 to find a job, when
everyone knows the staffs of every State
enterprise are either full or over-full.
And that, precisely in the summer, when
most of the bosses are on vacation. The
ONAT people were very clear: Whoever doesn't
have the documentation in order by August
1, will lose his license," said Surez.
Another man had his own reason why it would
be unlikely he could find a job: "I'm
a welder. Even though my skills are needed,
I've been unemployed for the last 8 years,"
said Lzaro Lemus, of San Cristbal,
in Pinar del Ro province. "Whenever
I find a job, they throw me out in short
order, not because of the quality of my
work, but because the inevitable investigation
reveals that I'm a human rights activist
and then they label me 'not trustworthy'
and fire me.
In addition to requiring that the self-employed
find jobs, the new regulations require that
they renew all the documentation for a license
every two years, and that they provide full
documentation from the Housing Authority,
also every two years, of all permits to
use their homes for business purposes. The
regulations also impose a new tax of about
340 dollars per year.
A self-employed worker in Candelaria, who
asked that he not be named, echoed the feelings
of many: "It's abusive. They don't
know what else to do to take away our licenses.
If we violate just one of the regulations,
we lose it. Then there's the inspectors.
It's impossible!"
Another worker who did not want to give
his name defended the social usefulness
of the self-employed: "Private workers
provide services that the State cannot or
will not provide."
Among the usual occupations for the self-employed
are repairs to bicycles, tires, horse-drawn
carriages, kerosene or gas stoves, small
appliances, and shoes; personal services,
such as hair cuts, food services, and a
myriad others. Still, forthcoming regulations
will keep 118 designated occupations and
deny licenses to 40 more.
Another man, who gave his name as Hernndez
and said he is a radio and TV repairman,
pointed out the differences in the service
offered by State and private shops: "The
State repair shop for small appliances generally
doesn't have spare parts. With us it's different.
We find the parts any which way. I buy old
radios and TVs to use the components. With
me, it's very unlikely the customer will
be unhappy; I do quality repairs at a reasonable
price and I guarantee the work."
Versin
original en espaol
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