Source: China Standards Information Service Network
In order to conscientiously implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and economic and social development, and to help individual industrial and commercial households cope with the impact of the epidemic, resume work and production in an orderly manner as soon as possible, and stably expand employment, with the consent of the State Council, six departments including the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Commerce, and the People’s Bank of China recently issued the “On Coping with the Impact of the Epidemic” Guiding Opinions on Increasing Support for Individual Industrial and Commercial Households.
Opinions pointed out that individual industrial and commercial households should be helped to resume work and production in an orderly manner as soon as possible. In accordance with the requirements for precise resumption of work and production by zoning and grading, we will promote the resumption of work and production of individual industrial and commercial households in an orderly manner according to business types and forms. We must conscientiously implement the “Guidelines on Epidemic Prevention and Control Measures for Enterprises and Institutions to Resume Work and Production” issued by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council in response to the new coronavirus infection pneumonia epidemic, and ensure that compliance personnel can take up their duties in a timely manner. Adopt flexible employment policies to promote the resumption of work and production in express delivery and other industries as soon as possible. Give full play to the role of e-commerce platforms and provide supply and demand docking information services for online and offline individual industrial and commercial households.
The opinion proposed that the operating costs of individual industrial and commercial households should be reduced. Increase financial support, guide financial institutions to increase low-interest loans by 300 billion yuan, and provide targeted support to individual industrial and commercial households. During the epidemic, the policy of reduction, exemption and postponement of insurance premiums for individual industrial and commercial households was implemented, and insurance registration was allowed to be postponed. From March 1 to May 31, 2020, a value-added tax exemption policy will be implemented for small-scale taxpayers, including individual industrial and commercial households. Reduction and exemption of certification, accreditation, inspection and testing fees for individual industrial and commercial households during the epidemic period. Encourage various localities to reduce or reduce rents for individual industrial and commercial households based on actual conditions.
The opinions emphasize that it is necessary to facilitate individual industrial and commercial households to enter the market. Provide convenient and efficient services for individual industrial and commercial households, do a good job in linking the approval of business licenses and relevant permits, and extend the time for filing annual reports. Further release business premises resources and establish and improve a negative list management system for individual business premises. For self-employed individuals in the retail industry who are engaged in ensuring the basic livelihood of the masses, their activity venues and times will be further expanded, and they will be exempted from registration in accordance with the law.
Opinions require that services to individual industrial and commercial households should be increased. To ensure the electrical supply of individual industrial and commercial households, in the first half of 2020, “non-stop supply” will be implemented for individual industrial and commercial households in difficulty, and a policy of phased reduction of electricity and gas costs will be implemented for individual industrial and commercial households in related industries. Give full play to the role of social organizations such as the Federation of Industry and Commerce and Individual Workers Association, and provide services and solve problems for individual industrial and commercial households through measures such as rights protection, publicity and education. Encourage Internet platforms to provide support and assistance for individual industrial and commercial households to resume work and production.
In the next step, the State Administration for Market Regulation will work with relevant departments to strengthen work guidance, promote local governments to introduce specific measures based on actual conditions, strengthen policy publicity and interpretation, take proactive actions and provide proactive services to help individual industrial and commercial households resume work and production in an orderly manner as soon as possible.