"Business is dying." This is how Anil Kumar Aswani, a businessman with businesses in Puerto del Carmen who has not yet been able to reopen, expresses himself, and he recounts the difficulties in being able to pay the rent, taxes and social security contributions of his workers.
"Any business on the avenue is in the same situation. We don't know how to pay the rent, the social security of the people we have in ERTE...", says this merchant, who points out that in his case he already owes "three or four months of rent".
Specifically, Anil Kumar Aswani owns two bazaars, one located in the Barcarola area and the other near the Hotel Los Jameos, where he has three contracted workers who, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, have been in ERTE. "And I can't open, because there is no tourism," he says.
However, he explains that in August he had to pay more than 300 euros for the social security of his employees, an amount that he says rose to 600 euros in September, 800 euros in October and will be 1,100 euros next month. "Because in August we paid 35%, but in September it was already 50%, now in October 75% and in November it will be 100%," he details.
"If we don't sell, where do we get the money to pay from?"
In addition, although he points out that the rents of the two stores were reduced by half, he states that they amount to a total of 3,600 euros. "In one store the rent was 2,200 euros, reduced to 1,000, and in another 5,000, reduced to 2,500, but I can't pay that either," he says. "And now, on October 20, I have to pay taxes on both stores, for garbage, car, house...", adds this man, who questions the "lack of help".
"If we don't sell, where do we get the money to pay from?" asks this businessman, who says that the president of the Hindu community of Lanzarote has already approached the Cabildo and the Tías City Council to request help for the merchants. "But we don't see solutions and we don't know what to do. There is no type of help," he laments.
"Everyone is worried, it's not just the Hindu community," says Anil Kumar Aswani, who explains that "in the Barcarola area there are already eight or ten stores that have closed forever."
