{"id":2889,"date":"2013-05-29T14:18:29","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T13:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mans.co.me\/en\/?p=2889"},"modified":"2013-06-25T14:29:23","modified_gmt":"2013-06-25T13:29:23","slug":"ngo-statement-opposing-imposition-of-new-vat-increase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mans.co.me\/en\/?p=2889","title":{"rendered":"NGO Statement Opposing Imposition of New VAT Increase"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"(Podgorica, 29 May 2013)<\/strong> \u2013 We condemn in the sharpest terms the intention of Montenegro\u2019s government to unilaterally, without broad consultations and any analysis, increase the VAT rate from 17 to 19%. The tax increase imposes new burdens on the poorest and most marginalized classes of Montenegro\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

In less than a year, the Government of Montenegro introduced a series of new laws that aim to fill the budget, while curtailing outlays for social assistance, education and other services that are used by citizens.<\/p>\n

First a tax on electricity meters and mobile phones was introduced (aka. the \u201ceuro for euro\u201d tax), after this a so-called \u2018crisis tax\u2019 was imposed on earnings, which further reduced net salaries, and more recently a shameful new Law on Social and Child Security was adopted that considerably curtailed the rights of the poorest citizens.<\/p>\n

Yesterday\u2019s adoption of this last law, effectively limiting the rights of families and users of child and famil8y benefits has only confirmed that the government is continuing to resolve its budgetary problems on the backs of citizens and unfortunately on the backs of the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

The adoption of a new, higher VAT, would push an additional number of citizens closer to the poverty line, while the general price increases that are expected would push the poorest into an existential crisis.<\/p>\n

Even though we understand that in a crisis it is important to save, it is absolutely unacceptable that only citizens and the most vulnerable categories be forced to bear the brunt of the crisis and the government\u2019s bad decisions. This is particularly true when we consider that the current savings measures only target social assistance, while other budgetary outlays and benefits that are enjoyed by high-ranking state employees remain insufficiently reduced.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re particularly worried that as in the \u201ceuro for euro\u201d tax, the newly increased VAT is being introduced to correct the consequences of bad privatization decisions and the payment of others debts and credits, instead of this money being spent for the advancement of living standards. A serious state should be able to ensure the payment of existing taxes, instead of filling the budget by increasing taxes in an indiscriminate way.<\/p>\n

For this reason, we\u2019re once again calling on the Government of Montenegro to withdraw the proposed Law on the VAT, which would increase that tax. Instead we\u2019re calling for a public debate on these questions, in order to find out other methods to correct the current deficit that aren\u2019t simply based on displacing the burden of restructuring on the most vulnerable citizens in Montenegro.<\/p>\n

Signed by:<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Group \u201cStela\u201d – Cetinje<\/p>\n

Center for Women\u2019s Rights<\/p>\n

Montenegro\u2019s LGBTIQ Association \u201cQueer Montenegro\u201d<\/p>\n

Montenegro\u2019s Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights<\/p>\n

NGO Prima<\/p>\n

Green Home<\/p>\n

League of Women Voters of Montenegro<\/p>\n

Action for Human Rights<\/p>\n

Ozone<\/p>\n

Expeditio<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Safe House<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Safe House Nora<\/p>\n

NVO Anima, Kotor<\/p>\n

NGO Anima – Kotor<\/p>\n

Podgorica Youth Association<\/p>\n

MANS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Podgorica, 29 May 2013) \u2013 We condemn in the sharpest terms the intention of Montenegro\u2019s government to unilaterally, without broad consultations and any analysis, increase the VAT rate from 17 to 19%. The tax increase imposes new burdens on the poorest and most marginalized classes of Montenegro\u2019s population. In less than a year, the Government<\/p>\n

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