Irrawaddty-Oct 2
Myanmar’s cash-starved military regime is again preying on householders and businesses in a desperate bid to prop up its coffers. In its latest moves, the regime has increased utility bills while announcing that license fees for jade and gems dealers will be hiked sixfold next year. The state-owned Myanmar Gems Enterprise issued a notice on September 15 saying that license fees for buying and selling finished jewelry will be increased from 50,000 kyats to 300,000 kyats (nearly US$ 90), from 30,000 kyats to 200,000 kyats for jade cutting, and from 30,000 kyats to 150,000 kyats for buying and selling raw gems. The regime has also raised vehicle registration fees to three times their level before the coup. Owners now need to pay 50,000 kyats for a smaller private vehicle and 100,000 kyats for a taxicab. The regime has also demanded that migrant workers remit at least 25 percent of their foreign currency income back home through the country’s banking system. The new remittance rule requires Myanmar workers to remit a quarter of their salaries either monthly or every three months through official channels. Those who do not comply will be barred from working overseas for three years after their current work permit expires. In addition, the regime recently changed the law so that Myanmar migrant workers are forced to pay a tax of at least 10 percent on incomes earned in other countries. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-cash-strapped-junta-hikes-taxes-utilities-despite-surging-inflation.html
