Café Owners Demand Extended Tax Relief Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Financial Strain

These café managers welcomed the measures taken during the 2nd quarter by the Directorate General of Local Authorities (exemption from public domain occupation rights and all municipal taxes for the second quarter) and demanded a new exemption for the next 5 months, i.e. until the end of December.

In their grievances, they indicate that they have suffered financially during the closure of their establishments and continue to suffer the setbacks of this health crisis.

In his intervention, Mohamed Abdelfadl, coordinator of the Joint Commission of Food Trades, recalled that profit margins in their activity do not exceed 10 to 15%. "This year, revenues will drop by more than 50% while costs have remained intact," he said.

According to several managers, this exemption from local taxes could slightly relieve them by reducing their financial difficulties and the social impact of this crisis in their field of activity.