“The autumn session of the Seimas foresees a series of important decisions that will affect both the regulation of different business sectors and the entire business environment. Given the approach of the election period, the The possibility of hasty and populist decisions, which, as experience shows, can cause serious damage in the long term, is the most worrying,” said A. Romanovskis.
Taxes remain the biggest problem
As it is written in the press release, as in the spring session, the most important issue for business will remain tax reform and related legislation – the Lithuanian Business Confederation and more than 60 business associations, recently joined by Vienaragiai LT, which brings together the largest startups in the country do not support an increase in taxation of capital and other high income and an increase in taxation of individual activities.
Furthermore, the LVK expresses doubts about the proposed property tax model, which lacks ambition and, as identified by the Bank of Lithuania, justice – in the opinion of the LVK, the tax base The property tax should cover as much real estate as possible, including commercial property, and should at the same time be adjusted and the rates, so that the latter are not merely symbolic, the advantages likely to distort the conditions of competition in businesses should be abandoned.
“We unequivocally believe that tax reform will be the most important debate for businesses this fall session. Even if tax reform is not urgent, the issue remains on the political agenda. We hope that the business voice will be heard,” said A. Romanovskis.
Discussions are expected on changes to laws on health insurance and alcohol control, as well as “conscript reform.”
This fall, it is planned to discuss amendments to the Health Insurance Law, which are aimed at adjusting the process of issuing permits for hospital services of a new profile paid by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, to carry out the consolidation of territorial funds, to modify the procedure for concluding contracts with personal health care establishments and for evaluating new personal health care services.
According to the President of the LVK, the main priority is to increase the accessibility of health facilities and improve the quality of services provided, therefore it is important that changes in the law do not prevent the entry of new facilities health on the market.
“The question of the merger of territorial health funds is fundamental, because it would reform the current health fund system, which is outdated and has become obsolete. We also recommend transferring responsibility for health insurance funds to the Ministry of Finance, which would make the transparent health insurance system and would not leave the financier and the health regulator under the same roof of the Ministry of Health,” commented A. Romanovskis.
Also important for businesses are changes to labor law, which are expected to be discussed in the Seimas this fall and aim to increase the number of legally employed people and encourage debtors to return to the job market. In LVK’s view, it is important to ensure that the right balance is struck, ensuring that the interests of debtors and creditors are balanced.
The real estate valuation reform will also be considered in the Seimas, which will directly affect not only real estate appraisers, but also the people who use their services, because after the reform, the activities of real estate appraisers will no longer be supervised or controlled, and They will not be allowed.
However, according to LVK, the real estate appraiser profession should not be deregulated at all, as this would lead to a situation in which each company will have to individually determine which real estate appraiser is reliable and which is not, resulting in costs . LVK still does not understand why the reform is necessary, because the state does not intend to save money through it. In LVK’s opinion, it would be more practical for both businesses and residents if certain requirements were maintained for real estate appraisers.
During this session, the Seimas will also consider the reform of the administration of fines.
The business community is wondering why a well-functioning private debt collection system is being transferred to the public sector as the state plans to take on a new function that will require dozens of new positions and millions of dollars of money. taxpayers. At the same time, if fines are collected directly by the state tax inspectorate, prices for bailiff services will increase for businesses and residents, since fines are relatively easy to collect, which makes it possible to cross-price and reduce the prices of other debt collection services. .
According to LVK, it is strange that this government alone publicly declares that “only what should remain in the state”, while at the same time taking on new functions, which are still perfectly fulfilled in private.
“Conscript reform” will be no less relevant for society as a whole. LVK supports the reform project presented by the Ministry of National Defense, supports the idea of universal conscription and at the same time calls for discussions on the inclusion of women.
Another issue that has attracted public attention and will be discussed in the Seimas hall is the ban on fur hunting. From a business perspective, this is an unprecedented situation in which an entire sector of economic activity is banned and the compensation offered to farmers will not cover even a small part of the investments or loss of income of the company.
According to the business community, the Seimas should provide meaningful and fair compensation for economic entities engaged in prohibited activities, otherwise the adopted ban would contradict the constitutional norm that property confiscated for public needs must be fairly compensated.
Amendments to the Road Transport Code will also be considered, linked to reducing shadows in the activities of carpooling drivers. In principle, companies support such an initiative, but it is important that some disproportionate provisions are abandoned, such as the revocation of driving licenses for minor violations of the KET and the desire to regulate the working hours of self-employed drivers. LVK aims to ensure that regulations remain proportionate and do not interfere with working flexibility, which is highly valued by commuters.
“Obviously, a busy autumn awaits the Seimas, which is why we hope that as the elections approach, it will not be blinded by the possibility of popular but short-sighted decisions, which could require more than one mandate to be corrected later… And the constant wish and desire of the business community – that there be discussions and decisions are made after careful consideration and listening to the arguments of all parties,” A said. Romanovskis.
Source: The Delfi
