President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 328 "On the implementation of craft activities by individuals" on August 21.

The document approves the Regulations on the exercise of craft activities by individuals. The Council of Ministers is instructed to determine the list of craft activities by September 1. From October 1, the registration of individuals as artisans will be carried out in accordance with this list.

Who can become an artisan

This list, in particular, is planned to include blacksmithing, artistic processing and painting of wood, stone, ceramics, yarn production, as well as certain traditional national crafts.

At the same time, in orderto revive unique crafts, local authorities are empowered to determine additional types of such activities in their territory.

What tax will be levied on artisans

Depending on the tax regime, the exercise of craft activities will be possible upon payment of a professional income tax or a craft fee.

The grounds for local authorities to decide on the payment of a craft fee by an individual include having the status of a folk master, membership in the Belarusian Union of Folk Art Masters, working as a master of folk crafts, receiving an old-age pension or a pension for long service, disability of group I or II, residing in a sparsely populated area (up to 50 people).

The decree also defines the procedure for commencing craft activities. This will require obtaining a notification through the mobile application "Professional Income Tax" when paying such tax or an administrative decision of local authorities when paying the craft fee.

Where artisans can sell their products

The document prohibits the use of industrial machinery and equipment in craft activities. At the same time, artisans are given the opportunity to sell their products in rented areas in retail and other facilities, shopping centers, on the internet, as well as through legal entities and individual entrepreneurs under civil law contracts.

The innovations of the decree are aimed at comprehensively regulating the procedural issues of exercising craft activities and will contribute to the development of craftsmanship based on national traditions and the transfer of Belarus's cultural heritage to subsequent generations.

As reported, the draft decree was discussed at a recent meeting of the head of state with the leadership of the Council of Ministers. The President demanded, so that the list of artisan activities is clear, transparent, and without red tape.

"We need to consider whether the proposed reform will create preconditions for some artisans, whose fields of activity will be excluded from the list, to move into the shadow economy," noted Alexander Lukashenko.

Among the issues raised by the President are the preservation of Belarus's cultural heritage and the requirement not to lose any rare craft during the transformation.

Based on materials from BelTA
Photos from open sources