Labour spokesperson for the economy and self-employed, Gavin Gulia, yesterday said government’s decision to increase the surcharge to 95% will impact negatively small enterprises and middle and low-income families.
“The increase will have an effect on the purchasing power of families and impact businesses,” Gulia said.
Gulia said that in the days to come he will kick off a campaign of visit to shops and the self-employed and their representatives to meet what he termed “the backbone of the economy”.
He criticised government for “imposing new burdens without any consultation with the social partners.”
The GRTU has forecast an increase of 2% in supermarket prices due to energy expenses incurred for refrigeration of foodstuffs. “The capping of the surcharge has been applied only to industry, which means other businesses will suffer the full brunt of the surcharge increase. Government should have been sensitive towards the demands of this sector.”
Gulia appealed to government to consider the needs of small businesses in talks with the GRTU.