01 April 2011, 17:29
Opening the meeting, Committee Chair Natalia Korolevska stated that the problem of shadow economy had been discussed in Ukraine for the past ten years. She stated that nearly 5-7 million of Ukrainians are working in the shadow economic system.
N. Korolevska is convinced that "this problem is the main obstacle on the way of overcoming crisis in the system of the Pension Fund in Ukraine, since total losses caused by this problem comprise nearly UAH 140 billion per year."
She emphasized, "There is a closed circle of stratified unfair division of labour market, since highly-qualified and highly paid specialists are oriented at kickbacks, while low-wage earner at the official salary, which is, unfortunately, extremely low." Thus, the public opinion is that it is better to receive kickbacks: according to figures from a recent opinion poll, 63% of gainfully occupied population is ready to receive unofficial salary, while only 15% are against it.
The participants of the round table discussion admitted: the bigger taxes and corruption load of the officials, the more people are working ‘in shadow.´
The attendants of the meeting discussed stimulation of small and medium-sized business by setting the preferences for those who arrange new working places, revising the consumer basket, minimum level subsistence and minimum wage, and increasing social standards.
Adoption of new legislative acts amending the taxation order of market participants and sole proprietors caused problems in the use of a simplified tax system. Moreover, there is a serious problem concerning increase of a boundary rate of income from sale of products (services and works) and revision of types of business activity entitled to the simplified tax system.
With this objective in view, the Committee drafted the bill "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding Simplified Taxation System, Accounting and Record Maintenance of Small Business Entities." The bill (Reg. No.8276) envisages a strict simplified tax system and eliminates the schemes of using this system to minimize tax payments.
The participants also focused on the bill on amendments to the Law "On Minimum Living Wage" (re consumer basket) (Reg. No.7536). Revision and extension of consumer basket, according to the People´s Deputies, shall increase social standards in Ukraine, and stimulate increase of salaries and social payments.
The People´s Deputies reported on the bill on amendments to clause 4 of the Law "On Charge and Registration of Single Payment for the Compulsory State Social Insurance" regarding exemption of pensioners and people with disabilities from single payment. The primary purpose of this bill (Reg. No.8287) is to exempt the pensioners and people with disabilities from single payment for compulsory state social insurance.
The attendants of the round table discussion expressed a number of proposals and remarks that shall be summarized and used by the Committee in further law-making.