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This time, when it comes to solutions, I will focus on current problems in the commercial sector. A sector that is a leader in terms of job creation, occupying a second important position in terms of economic value created. Therefore, solutions to problems relevant to this sector will inevitably be felt throughout the economy. And I don’t mean privileges.
Do not untie your hands with your long fingers
Let’s face it: stealing is bad. Turning theft into a business is doubly bad. During the pandemic, robberies increased, and at that time amendments to the Penal Code (CC) were registered in the Seimas, which offer to alleviate responsibility for patrimonial and patrimonial crimes. Generally speaking, allow thieves to steal more while avoiding criminal liability.
Under the proposed amendments, criminal liability for theft, fraud, embezzlement or waste will only be incurred if the damage is at least 250 EUR (currently 150 EUR), and the prison sentence for such crimes would only be threatened if the damage is of at least EUR 500 (currently EUR 150). – 250 Eur).
Even with the current legal framework, it is difficult to punish long-fingered perpetrators. Knowing the amount of goods that can be taken away, thieves feel unpunished and become increasingly arrogant: they have repeatedly raised their hands against the security guards in stores. Such audacity and impunity do not create security for society.
The desire to decriminalize some crimes is understandable, but given the facts, the scale of the thefts is early and hasty. Both the public and law enforcement agencies must be prepared for this. Unfortunately, at present, the decision to increase the criminal liability threshold would only benefit criminals.
Help those experiencing difficulties with COVID-19
During the pandemic, commercial companies experienced a significant decrease in the flow of buyers and some shopping centers were unable to operate due to the quarantine. Under the strictest restrictions, a helping hand was extended to companies, deferring the payment of VAT, GPM and Sodra, with partial compensation of the rent to the most affected companies.
This allowed companies to survive, save jobs, and recover faster after quarantine. We were briefly satisfied in the summer: the economic recession was one of the smallest in the European Union.
Although the second quarantine is not as strict, the flow of buyers is decreasing and, with them, the income of some sellers is decreasing. However, costs remain, some of which are fixed, regardless of turnover.
That is why solutions are needed that allow companies to withstand this wave of COVID-19. Extending the partial reimbursement of income, which represents an important part of the costs of commercial companies, and deferring the payment of taxes during the emergency would facilitate the breathing of companies, save jobs and maintain economic viability.
During the transition period, with the changes of government, there is still little clarity on business support, although support is available to all EU countries without exception. Or maybe companies still had to adapt to the pandemic?
Definitely, and he’s been doing it for half a year. The commercial sector has invested millions during this period to adapt to the situation and guarantee the safety of both workers and buyers, maintain employment and strengthen social guarantees for workers.
However, if we want the pandemic to have no complications (closures, layoffs), support must reach companies during the ‘second wave’.
Don’t overwhelm with regulations and penalties
A busy year awaits Lithuania also due to the obligation to transpose several EU directives into national law next year.
Two of them also refer to the commercial sector. We also recall that at the beginning of EU accession, there were a number of cases where the directives were transposed “en masse”, that is, by creating restrictions that the directives simply do not provide.
This has infuriated both businesses and consumers. There have been fewer such cases recently, but we are witnessing a resurgence of the desire to add both fines and regulations, seizing the opportunity to transpose directives. Here too it is necessary to measure nine times: whether the transpositions of the Directives should really be one more opportunity to create an additional line for business.
Don’t destroy what works well
Proposals registered with the Seimas to expand the tare deposit system to include more glass. Although the tarot system is gaining public support, unfortunately, development will only bring chaos to an exemplary collateral collection system and in no way protect the environment. When creating the warehouse system, the most optimal solution was chosen, so the system works perfectly: not only European countries, but also representatives from far away countries, such as Japan, India, Australia, China and South Korea, they come to Lithuania to consult and study. Lithuania is spoken of as a country that has achieved a lot in the field of environmental protection, has developed a good project in a short time and has obtained extremely high results.
It is important to understand that any extension of the deposit system with new containers is inseparable from the big changes in the whole system. When the proposals were debated in the Seimas, almost all the experts in this field spoke out against the expansion of the system. They agreed that the container system for the collection of glass containers should be intentionally improved. These are just some of the important issues that will be on the new government’s agenda. We urge you to discuss them very carefully, because the situation we find ourselves in requires a special approach, cooperation and common goals.
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