– First of all, the name of the office will be changed. There will no longer be a spokesperson for tiny and medium-sized entrepreneurs, there will be a spokesperson for the rights of entrepreneurs.
Thus, the Ombudsman will be protected not only by micro-, tiny and medium-sized entrepreneurs, but besides by large entrepreneurs, besides by farmers who are presently engaged in economical activities and who are excluded from the law and cannot be helped," says Newseria Agnieszka Majewska, spokesperson for tiny and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs. – besides free professions, specified as lawyers, notaries, insurance agents, are besides people who conduct business but are not included in, for example, CEIDG, so present we are besides incapable to aid them.
The powers of the Ombudsman for Entrepreneurs’ Rights will be extended
Work is ongoing on the amendment of the SME Ombudsman Act. Its draft is at the consultation phase and provides for many modifications in the area of competence of the body, which so far only covers micro, tiny and medium-sized companies. With the entry into force of the fresh law, he will be able to take action for the benefit of all entrepreneurs, including farmers, lawyers or shareholders of companies.
The powers of the Ombudsman for the Rights of Entrepreneurs will besides be extended to include opinions and the initiation of legislative acts. The draft law besides mentions the protection of a typical of a single-member company and of shareholders of a public, limited or partner company, a shareholder of a simple joint stock company contributing to a company, whose contribution is to supply work or services, or a subcontractor in a limited partnership.
We can prepare draft normative acts
The Authority will besides be given the chance to appoint representatives, including the European Union, to keep up with events from Brussels. The Act besides provides for an extension of cooperation with the EU institutions to defend business rights. However, this is not the end of crucial changes.
– We will be able to prepare draft normative acts, which are related to business activity, in aspects where I will see any problems reported by entrepreneurs. I will be able to prepare these acts and send them to the Council of Ministers or to the applicable ministries, which have the power to take up the full legislative process," stressed Agnieszka Majewska. This is simply a very crucial change, due to the fact that that is what we lack.
The Ombudsman will besides give opinions on all legal acts relating to the activities of companies.
– It is now that ministries are sending us draft acts to give us an opinion, but not all of them. If the bill changes, it will be an obligation, so any minister, if any change concerning the conduct of business, will be obliged to send us this task for an opinion," Majewska explains.
As he assures, the amendment of the bill and the extension of the Ombudsman's powers will not weaken the protective function vis-à-vis micro, tiny and medium-sized entrepreneurs who request the top support from the representatives of the institution. However, large companies besides face problems, especially in legislative matters.
