All the Self-employed organizations have raised the alarm on the precarious situation of the retail trade in our country. The UPTA (Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers) warns that businesses run by freelancers have seen sales fall by 5,6% last May.
Despite the data that have been published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the decline in sales has moderated somewhat, reaching 5,3%, when in April sales decreased 11,3% compared to the same period in 2011. On the other hand, UPTA cannot but be against a VAT increase in the coming months since that, they emphasize, will cause an even more pronounced decline in sales.
César García, Executive Secretary for Territorial Policy of the UPTA, is convinced that the situation is becoming unsustainable for many members of the autonomous community , and applauds measures such as the express license that allows a shorter time for the opening of shops, although it is possible that the VAT increase nullifies the effect of that measure.
Another of the organizations that represent the autonomous collective, such as the Union of Associations of Autonomous Workers and Entrepreneurs, UTAE, is concerned about retail trade and above all the significant number of jobs created by these freelancers. The steep decline in sales and activity is causing many freelancers to have to do without their staff.
Source: Expansion | Image: epSos