Discontented Sole Traders in Homiel Unite in Protest Over Doubled Rental Fees
In the heart of Homiel, Belarus, a significant development has unfolded at the Sekret shopping centre. Approximately 400 sole traders have gone on strike today, responding to a drastic increase in rental fees set by the new owner, NP-Servis.
The rental fee, previously ranging from €45-55 per square meter, has been raised to €120, a significant jump that has raised concerns among the traders. This information was reported by BelaPAN, a reliable news source.
The strike is ongoing, with some traders openly protesting, while others are supporting their colleagues under the guise of stocktaking. The electricity supplies were cut off to some shops on the ground floor and later on the first floor of the shopping centre, prompting the traders to call the police to record what they perceived as intentional actions by the shopping centre administration.
The electricity was eventually restored following a call to the city authorities, according to rumours. However, the exact details and the current status of the situation are not immediately available.
It's worth noting that the shopping centre, named Sekret, is a significant hub in Homiel. The increase in rental fees may have a significant impact on the financial stability of the sole traders, many of whom are struggling to cope with the rise in costs.
Unrelated to the shopping centre's situation, there are reports linking BelAZ dealers to Lukashenko's sons, earning as much as BelAZ itself. Meanwhile, Lithuania has made concessions, allowing entry with Belarusian license plates if the owner is driving and has a residence permit or visa for Lithuania.
In a separate development, Tatyana Zaretskaya, a former Estonian startup entrepreneur, is now trying to become an intermediary for investors in Saudi Arabia.
As the situation at Sekret shopping centre continues to unfold, we will keep you updated with the latest developments.
- The jump in rental fees at the Sekret shopping centre, now ranging from €120 per square meter, could potentially have a significant impact on the financial stability of the retail industry within Homiel's business ecosystem.
- The ongoing strike by sole traders at the Sekret shopping centre, driven by the rise in rental fees, could also have repercussions for the finance sector if it leads to a decline in consumer spending in the retail industry.
