Syrian Parliamentarian Criticizes “Ill-Considered” Mandatory Business Registry
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Safwan al-Qurbi, a member of People’s Assembly, Syria’s parliament, described on Monday a new law, requiring business owners to be added to a mandatory registry as “ill-considered” and among a set of new “arbitrary” decisions.
The parliamentarian, in a statement to the pro-government al-Watan newspaper, said the resolution is “untimely amid the current circumstance.”
In late December 2022, the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection forced sellers to obtain a business registry.
The decision prohibits selling any goods wholesale, semi-wholesale, and retail without a business registry. The Legislative Decree No. 8 of 2021 includes fines and imprisonment for offenders.
Al-Qurbi believes the government should cancel or postpone the resolution and ease burdens on citizens in light of the current economic crisis ravaging Syria.
The government’s resolution upset small business owners, as they would have to pay application fees in order to be registered.
Others said it imposes further burdens on business owners without providing them with any services or protection.