Lukashenko stated the need to establish unified strict rules of the game for passenger road transport

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has stated the need to establish unified strict rules of the game for the passenger car transportation sector. He made this statement at a meeting on passenger transportation issues, a BELTA correspondent reports.

"We are approaching this issue not only and not so much because of a series of incidents on the roads. But also because often in our lives there are many unorganized directions and issues. And since this is the safety of people, our citizens (I'm not even talking about taxes, there are plenty of abuses there), this issue needs to be organized," the Belarusian leader noted.

"Today, we need to thoroughly understand and establish unified rules of the game for everyone. Strict, transparent, and clear. No one needs to be pressured, harassed, fired, etc. The rules of the game are the same for everyone! Both for legal and illegal, organized and unorganized. According to unified rules. A step to the left, a step to the right... It is necessary to determine what functions the state takes upon itself as a regulator: how total control in this sphere will be carried out, what additional responsibilities will appear for carriers," the President stated.

The head of state noted that the issue of passenger car transportation concerns minibuses that run in cities and between settlements, and taxis.

"The state has two simple requirements for this sector. First - the safety of people. Many of our citizens and guests of the country use this type of transport. Second - legal operation of carriers. Because they underestimate revenue, hide it, pay salaries in envelopes, and don't pay taxes in huge amounts. Law enforcement agencies are dealing with this. I would like Kubrakov together with Tertel (heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB. - BELTA note) to report to me before the New Year for decision-making. There is nothing to talk to them about. If you haven't paid the tax - then you go there (referring to prosecution in accordance with the law. - BELTA note)," the head of state said.

He stated that, on the whole, not all participants in this business comply with the understandable and fair rules: "As the inspections of the State Control Committee show, there are quite a few unscrupulous dealers."

Thus, over 9 months of 2023, slightly more than 10,000 vehicles were inspected. About 9,000 violations were detected.

"The most terrible thing is that illegal carriers deliberately evade the safety requirements imposed on regular carriers: possession of the necessary driver's category and experience. Anyone who wants to can transport people, and then there are horrific accidents," said Alexander Lukashenko. - No experience, no category, no permit to operate, no technical inspection, no compliance with working hours and rest periods. These drivers work from morning till night. Because it's money for the owner. Such an attitude towards business will sooner or later lead to a tragedy like the one in Smolevichi district, where about fifteen people, including children, died," said Alexander Lukashenko.

From a financial point of view, the most common violations detected are revenue concealment, business fragmentation, "envelope" salaries, and tax evasion. "We, Roman Alexandrovich (Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko. - BELTA's note), need to toughen penalties for real offenses: if you fragment your business, you must be held accountable. If you don't pay taxes... Listen, who will reproach us: in America, you can get a life sentence for tax evasion - a democratic country," noted the head of state. - This leads to unfair competition with legal carriers, which affects the entire automotive transport industry. That is, they transport without a system, they steal, they cheat, they don't pay taxes. Of course, what buses and other carriers can compete with them?! That is, unequal conditions. Do we not see this?"

As a result, budget losses amount to tens of millions of rubles, and honest carriers are forced to close their businesses and lay off employees.

Source: belta.by