GRTU foresees problems with dual pricing

The introduction of dual pricing in January 2007 will bring about confusion and added expenses, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU has warned, accusing the government of making hasty decisions.

The decision to display prices in both the lira and the euro will fuel expenses because the rate of exchange has not been fixed, the GRTU said in a strongly worded statement.

While accusing the Cabinet of acting unilaterally and of ignoring the National Euro Changeover Committee, the GRTU said the government cannot use the euro as an excuse for mistaken decisions.

From January 2007, tourists will evidently expect to start paying in euros and this will bring about problems of logistics as well as added expenses because of new equipment, the GRTU lamented.

Besides, shops cannot and will not accept the euro with the central parity rate because of bank fees and commercial exchange rates.

To this effect, the GRTU has called for the elimination of bank fees whenever euros are deposited as well as the abolition of commercial rates. It also requested that the central parity rate remains unchanged.

Should these requests be turned down then the government should intervene to bridge the gap for the additional costs, it said.

The GRTU also expressed concern over the fact that several prices have to be revised from time to time because of the electricity surcharge.