Linić’s Cash Registers Devastate Markets

Croatian markets are empty this morning due to a strike by traders who claim that it is impossible to implement fiscalization at their workplaces.

Today marks the start of the last round of fiscalization, which imposes an obligation on traders to possess fiscal cash registers, and it does not apply only to family farms (OPG).

The working conditions in the open air prevent the use of cash registers, and such implementation of fiscalization hinders our specific communication with customers that involves bargaining, said Neven Peša, a representative of the strikers, to Hina.

According to the spokesperson for Zagreb Markets, Mira Bakrača, in Zagreb, for example, only 10 percent of stalls are operating at Dolac and Kvatrić, and about 5-6 percent at the Trešnjevka Market. The Dubrava Market is also closed.

The strikers at Dolac had a meeting this morning with the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Nenad Stazić, who, according to statements from Peša and Bakrača, promised to assist in communication with the relevant ministry. The strike will last until some acceptable solutions are found, said Peša. We want to be honest citizens who pay taxes regularly and seek a suitable way to do so. This could be a flat rate based on the area of rented space or any other, concludes Neven Peša.

Hundreds of vendors at Split’s markets and fish markets have also gone on strike, warning that they do not have the conditions to sell goods and regulate fiscalization simultaneously.

Protesters gathered at the main Split market (pazar) and walked along the waterfront to the main city fish market, stating that they will strike indefinitely, or until they receive assistance in overcoming difficulties regarding fiscalization.

Among the strikers at the city market, and then at the fish market, was Split’s mayor Ivo Baldasar. Baldasar promised the protesters that he would try to speak with Finance Minister Slavko Linić and the Director of the Tax Administration Nada Čavlović Smiljanac and convey the strikers’ positions.

Vendors at the Osijek market protested for an hour against the introduction of fiscalization, joined by members of family farms, and supported by Osijek’s mayor Ivica Vrkić. He stated that he would ask Minister Linić to exempt small vendors from fiscalization. If I cannot achieve that, the city of Osijek will buy them fiscal cash registers, promised the mayor.

About three hundred vendors did not work at the Rijeka markets. After gathering at the main market, the protest continued in front of the city administration building on Korzo, where Rijeka’s mayor Vojko Obersnel received representatives of the protesters.

After the discussion, Obersnel told those gathered that he personally understands them and believes that the solution proposed for the green market is not the most fortunate due to its specific nature.

Obersnel suggested to the vendors that, together with representatives from other markets in Croatia, they establish a delegation and explain to the ministry what needs to be done, adding that the Chamber of Crafts should also be involved in finding a solution. The representative of the protesters, Zoran Plavčić, announced that the stalls would remain closed until further notice, and that he expects the implementation of the fiscalization law to be postponed, at least until an appropriate solution is found.

Two stall owners at the Zadar market attacked a father and son, also vendors, this morning at 8:45 AM, and unofficially it is learned that the reason for the fight was fiscalization, as the two vendors decided to comply with the law and issue fiscal receipts.

As confirmed by the Zadar police, the father and son were lightly injured and did not seek medical assistance. The police are searching for the attackers.

For this morning, when fiscalization came into effect for open-air markets, a strike by vendors at the Zadar market was announced, but after a brief agreement, the vendors decided to protest tomorrow instead.

Dissatisfied with this method of collection, Zadar vendors at the green market will close their stalls for half an hour tomorrow.