Are local labor, tax and customs agencies being especially flexible with Chinese merchants? Diario Libre interviewed local shop owners that complain the lenience of the authorities is unfair competitive conditions. The business people call for more active controls by the authorities of Chinese-run businesses in the country. They complain the unfair competition has helped the Chinese-run business to grow into megastores. Many of these stores are located uptown on the northern sections of Duarte Avenue.
Diario Libre is reporting on the claims that the Chinese merchants are paying less in customs. This enables them to sell at lower prices, especially in lighting and hardware.
The businessmen also say the authorities should check the Social Security (TSS) compliance of the businesses and look into whether the Chinese bosses are paying at least minimum wages to their employees. The businessmen called for more supervision of working conditions and working hours of the employees.
“If I am not declaring sales, if I have employees who are not in the TSS (Social Security Treasury), if I do not have fiscal printers, (they) then I am competing totally in an unfair environment. Theyhave all the advantages, because they have no obligations,” José Antonio Álvarez, president of the National Association of Importers (ANI) told Diario Libre.
Diario Libre highlights that the better conditions enjoyed by the Chinese businesses has lead to the opening of megastores in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Moca.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
8 February 2023