Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that a requirement to install transparent screens between a shop assistant (a cashier) and a customer was imposed in Ashgabat grocery stores. Vendors selling fruit and vegetable at bazaars use plastic shields.
Shields are installed at the expense of shop owners.
As COVID-19 prevention measures will allegedly be loosened in the upcoming days (residents believe rumours when the authorities do not make any statements), shop owners hope that the requirement to install plastic screens will be lifted.
However, some shops have already been inspected by employees of Ashgabat khyakimlik’s office and officials from the public health authority.A retail outlet will be closed if the requirement is not observed.
Yet, the problem might be solved if a bribe of 1000 manats is paid to inspectors, which is cheaper than going through bureaucratic procedures of re-opening.
Owners of closed household goods stores need to pay patent and rental fees. In order to cover these expenses they are also obliged to violate the imposed prevention measures. People wait for customers in front of closed stores in order to sell them merchandise from warehouses or from their apartments.
If supervisory authorities identify violations, vendors in “Altyn Asyr” market are charged a bribe of 300 manats under the threat of closure of a retail outlet.
It should be highlighted that the government of Turkmenistan imposed COVID-19 prevention measures, as a result of which many entrepreneurs lost their income.At the same time, no incentives or financial support is provided by the authorities.
Desperate residents are forced to violate the restrictions and continue working by paying bribes to supervisory authorities.The post COVID-19 prevention measures result in additional extortions from entrepreneurs first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.