Almost 100% Entrepreneurs Ready To Come Out To Demonstrations, Strikes

Individual entrepreneurs reckon Lukashenka and the government as the key threat to their businesses.

The discontent with the actions of the Belarusian authorities is growing among the individual entrepreneurs. In 3 years, the number of individual entrepreneurs who consider that the president and the government jeopardize their businesses has grown twofold and now makes 86%. In case of further violation of their rights, the absolute majority of the individual entrepreneurs is ready to come out to the mass protest actions.

These are the results of the public opinion poll conducted by the Republican Public Association “Perspective”, and presented on Monday, February 27. About 500 individual entrepreneurs from all the regions of Belarus participated in the poll.

The statistical data of the poll shows that most individual entrepreneurs were forced to start businesses. As a rule, the people, who lost their jobs as a result of being laid-off at the state enterprises, started individual entrepreneurship. Many quit the state enterprises voluntarily, because of low salaries. Thus, 46% of individual entrepreneurs assessed their initial motive to start a business as forced, 29% – as voluntary, and 25% chose both variants.

Herein, 43% of individual entrepreneurs have higher education, 47% have advanced education and only 10% have secondary education.

The statistical data of the poll also shows the continuation of ageing of the entrepreneurs. Thus, in 2016, 87% of individual entrepreneurs were older than 35. Young people do not start entrepreneurship.

The social significance of individual entrepreneurs remains high today. Thus, 75% support 2 or more relatives. Thus, given the official statistical data, we refer to the well-being of 700 000 people.

Taxes, rent, fines have recently become insignificant problem, compared with no trade and the norm-setting innovations of the authorities. Individual entrepreneurs started thinking in other categories, increasingly deepening the problem and highlighting not only the consequences but also the causes.

The income level of the business continues to decline from year to year at a catastrophic pace. In 2016, more than 98% individual entrepreneurs said that their income decreased. Only 0,8% said it grew.

The number of checks once again shows the significant growth rates.

For the last 2 years, the number of individual entrepreneurs who are discontent with the local authorities has grown more than twofold.

86 % of individual entrepreneurs plan to close their businesses within the next two years if the conditions of work with documents remain unchanged.

The discontent with the actions of the Belarusian authorities is growing among the individual entrepreneurs. In 3 years, the number of individual entrepreneurs who consider that the president and the government jeopardize their businesses has grown twofold and now makes 86%.

99% of individual entrepreneurs stand against the Decree #222.

93% of individual entrepreneurs are ready to go to a demonstration or announce a strike in the current year, in case of violation of their rights and interests.

As leader of the Republican Public Association “Perspective” Anatol Shumchanka has informed to the belaruspartisan.org, these figures reflect the expected results of the recent actions of the Belarusian authorities.

“I am convinced that, if we conduct an anonymous poll with the representatives of medium and even big business, we will get similar results. After such results of the poll of the business, the Ministry of Economics, the tax inspectorate and the whole economic block of the government should resign. If the business says the key threat is the president and the government, what else can we talk about?! It's just a culmination of the authorities’ unprofessionalism. If their work has led to such a view of most entrepreneurs, they are obliged to resign immediately, " – Anatol Shumchanka has said.