Employers' association against limits on self-employment

"The provisions proposed by the Finance Ministry will not eliminate fictitious self-employment and they will have a negative influence on economic growth," said Henryka Bochniarz, president of Lewiatan. The Finance Ministry wants to restrict self-employment opportunities, which allow one to pay a lower, 19% PIT rate and lower ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) contributions. In addition, about 1.6 million people might lose the self-employed status, which could mean losing a job or having to pay higher taxes. "Self-employment is often the first step to engaging in other forms of business activity. The next might be opening a company," Bochniarz said. She added that fictitious self-employment in order to pay lower PIT and ZUS rates is a marginal phenomenon. (Puls Biznesu, p. 1,7) A.M.