Greek vendors protest over tax raise

Athens market vendors on Wednesday set up a fruit market in front of the finance ministry in protest over new Greek tax measures. Vendors are opposed to an increase in taxes over goods imposed by the government, and a regulation that requires receipts to be issued by sellers for the sale of their goods. The government has raised taxes three times in the last year as part of an economic reform program to reduce the country's debt. The government also required businesses including the vendors, to have cash tills and issue receipts, after rampant tax evasion has plagued the country's income. Many business owners in Greece never issue receipts to their customers in order to avoid paying more taxes. We are asking that this measure with cash tills is abolished and negotiations to begin with the ministry so that some other solution is found, said president of the vendors union, Pandelis Moschos. Vendors handed out free fruit to passersby and said the action was part of a planned strike by vendors across the country. Protests by various labour groups have plagued the country since the government introduced economic reforms this year to reduce its massive debt, but the government has not wavered from its programme of cuts.