NFRN Ireland is calling on Minister of Finance Michael Noonan to support independent retailers in his Budget for 2016.
It asks that the national minimum wage not be considered in the “abstract”, but that implications on business costs should be taken in to account, while measures to support small businesses be implemented before it is increased.
The retailer group is also calling for the introduction of a rate relief scheme, which would see larger businesses pay additional tax to support small businesses, as a way to tackle the decline of independent retailers.
It adds that the Government needs to slow the growth of the illicit tobacco trade by implementing proposals like the introduction of more port scanners, as well as not increasing the duty on tobacco or introducing a new tobacco licence fee.
NFRN Ireland also advises the government against a tax on sugar, calling it an easy solution and instead recommends tackling the issue through better education and awareness.
NFRN Ireland District President, Peter Steemers commented, “By taking decisions without considering the implications on businesses many small independent retailers will have no choice but to take drastic action, including make redundancies and in some cases closing up their shop altogether.
“Therefore, we advocate the government to put small shops at the forefront of the Budget to ensure their continued survival as important local community businesses,” he said.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
