Entrepreneurs say reform measures would harm small businesses
Published:
5 December 2003 y., Friday
Though President Vaclav Klaus' vetoes of a pair of finance reform bills late in November caused a stir in Czech political circles (See story, page A10), they were hailed by another influential group - this country's entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
"We welcome the move," said Pavel Bernasek, vice-chairman of Prague-based exporter Ecimex Group. "The state shouldn't support the failing health care system by taxing employers."
One bill vetoed by Klaus mandates higher health insurance payments by employers.
The Czech Chamber of Commerce has warned that public-finance reform will mainly weaken small businesses, a group that is endangered by the looming European Union entry. The Czech state is heading down a bumpy road with its tax policy, critics say.
The government is looking to reduce the deficit this year and not in the years to come, said American Chamber of Commerce President Weston Stacey, calling the reform short-sighted.
Compared to its neighbors, the Czech Republic has a relatively high corporate tax rate. All candidate countries intend to lower their rates. Slovakia's government recently approved a flat rate of 19 percent, to take effect next year. A proposal in Hungary aims to slash corporate tax from the current 18 percent to 16 percent. Meanwhile, the Czech government is discussing a gradual push downward from 31 percent to 24 percent by 2006.
Šaltinis:
praguepost.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
One of the biggest Finnish introducing broker companies Finnprinters, connecting customers and printing houses, has started joint business projects with Lithuania’s 2 printing houses.
more »
Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, the unemployment rate in I quarter 2009 reached 11.9 per cent, i.e. was close to the level of the year 2004. Over a quarter, the unemployment rate grew 1.5 times, over a year – 2.4 times.
more »
Lithuania’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas discussed ways of accelerating the implementation of Rail Baltica in the current economic environment and attracting foreign investments for the implementation of this project.
more »
Proposals for transparency and monitoring to keep gas flowing to the EU.
more »
On a day in which G8 leaders in Italy said the world economy still faces "significant risks," a top White House official said the Obama administration is not discussing a second stimulus plan.
more »
EU proposes microfinance facility to encourage the unemployed to start their own businesses.
more »
For those of you who like your fruit and vegetables to look as crooked, knobbly and curvy as possible 1 July was a good day.
more »
Walt Disney will invest almost half a billion U.S. dollars into its Hong Kong Disneyland, to bolster the park's prospects against a planned rival in Shanghai.
more »
On 26 June 2009 Securities Commission (SC) approved the merge of investment funds controlled by UAB SNORAS Asset Management with SNORAS Global Equity Funds of Funds (SGEFF) by joining JT Baltic Equity Fund I.
more »
Taking into account changes on international and domestic money markets AB DnB NORD Bankas, a member of international financial group, has changed time deposit rates for individual customers.
more »