07/02/2020 - 14:01
- Clarín.com
- Zonal
Two municipalities in the Buenos Aires suburbs are the first to restrict the sale of non-essential products in large supermarkets, with the aim of helping local businesses. These are Lanús and Tres de Febrero, who gave the initial kick in this provision that is already in force and will last until July 17.
"From now on and through actions promoted by the Communal Control area of the Municipality of Lanús, local supermarkets and hypermarkets will not sell non-essential items. The main objective is to encourage the purchase of this type of product from small neighborhood merchants who make sales online or via WhatsApp. The measure is valid until July 17, the date on which the new phase of isolation expires, ”announced the municipality that Néstor Grindetti leads.
For his part, Diego Valenzuela, Mayor of Tres de Febrero, explained: "It is a measure that seeks commercial equity in defense of local businesses."
They explained that these measures seek to avoid unfair competition from supermarkets and hypermarkets that have branches in the district.
"It is unfair for a neighborhood merchant to be prohibited from opening their business and for their own products to be obtained in a hypermarket," Valenzuela said, adding: "It cannot be that you can buy a T-shirt in a supermarket, but not in the closeness that we have around the house ”.
Tapes that prohibit customers from entering one of the supermarkets that by municipal agreement will not sell non-essential items.
This agreement implies trade equity in defense of neighborhood trade and those that cannot open. All the supermarket chains that are in the district agreed to close their gondolas: COTO, Carrefour, Walmart, Easy and Chango Más.
Areas such as textiles, electronics, bazaar items, and toys will be reserved for small merchants.
To comply with this measure, supermarkets closed the shelves of non-essential items through the use of barriers and signs indicating that the purchase of this type of product is not allowed.
"This action represents a greater balance, since it is a measure that contributes to sustaining the economic development of small businesses, entrepreneurs and local entrepreneurs," they explained from the municipality of Lanús.
In the case of February 3, they decided to accompany this decision by an ordinance that exempts commercial activities not excepted during ASPO from the payment of the Security and Hygiene Tax.
"Non-essential product". A sign present in one of the supermarkets that will stop selling these items by municipal agreement.
The measure will be in force while the health emergency governs and corresponds to businesses whose annual turnover does not exceed 5 million pesos. This is in addition to a measure taken in May to reduce by 30% the TISH tax on SMEs and businesses that saw their activity affected, financed by a 30% increase to large companies and who have worked in quarantine.
In addition, to accompany businesses that cannot work today, the Municipality created the platform "Comprá en 3F" (www. Compraen3f.com.ar), a business network to buy online with delivery by delivery and with the possibility of acquiring Future vouchers, a way to help businesses that sell services.
“I am convinced that this is not the time to persecute neighborhood businesses, but to support them because they are the engine of our economy; they are not part of the problem but part of the solution; because they avoid crowds in large shopping centers, "said Valenzuela.
JPE
