21.10.2019 Düzce
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Meeting with industrialists and businesspeople held at Düzce University TechnoPark.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said in his speech that Düzce CCI and Düzce CE are accredited chambers/commodity
exchanges and offer their members a 5-star service at European standards.
The
TOBB President reported that, as a result of the efforts of Düzce CCI and CE,
the number of organized industrial zones in Düzce increased from 1 to 5; and
Düzce's products reached the point where they are exported to 124 countries.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that they are going through a difficult period, “As you well know. Our
primary task is to convey our community, our members’ frustrations and
suggestions to bureaucrats and the government. Many of the demands sent to us
by you have been addressed.”
Sharing
the demands that were addressed in only the last few months, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “Our biggest complaint was regarding the banks. At your request and the
initiative of our government, public banks took steps in this regard. They've
cut interest rates a little bit and they're just starting to give out new loans.
Our second complaint was high POS commissions. We've been stressing it
everywhere for the last year. We've finally made sure that steps are taken. A
1.60% upper limit has been imposed for POS commissions. Cheque-Deed collection
was another important problem. We introduced the QR-code system to cheques. Now
we're working on a similar system for bonds. Again, there was one thing we've
been working on for a long time. Trade credit insurance. Halkbank and Halk Insurance
led the way. The credit restructuring business just wouldn't work. A new
application has been launched for those who owe 25m TRY or more in loans. We
wanted small companies to be added to this. We're waiting for that to be
implemented.
Dues
from public institutions were particularly problematic. We've always told you
how much these payments are needed. In July, when the Central Bank's reserve
fee was transferred to the Treasury, some of the overdue debts to the private
sector were paid. There's been some relief. We're following up on the matter.
Vocational Education was very important for our community. As the business
community, one thing we always complained about was the slow functioning of the
judicial system. We have contributed to the implementation of alternative
solutions to be put into action. The mediation system has been initiated. It has
been made mandatory in business-employer disputes, then in commercial cases. So
far, 65% of applications have resulted in a deal. The cases that used to last
for years end in days and weeks. In commercial disputes, use TOBB arbitration.
You get much cheaper and much faster results. Finally, there is the subject of Vocational
Qualification Certificate, a certificate of professional competence is
mandatory for 143 professions in the ‘hazardous’ and ‘very hazardous‘ categories.
In these professions, employers employing undocumented workers will be subject
to high fines. Within TOBB, we have established MEYBEM Vocational Qualification
and Certification Centers. The vocational qualification exam has no cost to the
employer or the person who will take the exam. The government pays for it. In
addition, employers employing certified persons, up to 4 years, do not pay the
employer's share of SSI premiums. In other words, your SSI cost is suddenly
reduced by half.”
The
TOBB President stated that are many other issues which they are following up on
such as electricity hikes, e-foreclosures, disruption of incentives such as
KOSGEB, difficulties posed by private banks, severance pay burden, and these
issues are relayed to the ministers at every opportunity.”