In addition to rising energy prices, entrepreneurs are faced with shortages of raw materials and professionals, according to the Limburg Employers’ Association (LWV).
It is crisis after crisis for entrepreneurs, emphasizes LWV director Huub Narinx on Sunday evening in L1mburg Central.
War
Narinx explains that the war in Ukraine causes various difficulties for entrepreneurs. “We could already have had a lingering problem of not getting enough skilled workers. Then there is inflation, energy prices and the inability to get more raw materials.”
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He mentions, among other things, the supply of pallet wood. “30 percent of that comes from the countries that are now subject to sanctions. You immediately get a fight for the last pallet wood.” Also aluminum, steel and palladium are almost impossible to come by, according to the director.
In order to get ahead of the raw materials problem, many entrepreneurs are now purchasing more. “As a result, the inflation of the price is even faster”, Narinx knows. “It will be inevitable that the consumer will feel that in the final price.”
‘Double the scarf’
Many entrepreneurs have already been hit hard by the economic consequences of the corona crisis. According to Narinx, this makes them ‘double the swindle’.
The director calls the economic support that the government has offered to entrepreneurs during the corona crisis ‘effective’. Nevertheless, according to Narinx, we must take into account a so-called ‘shake out‘, whereby companies that previously survived thanks to government support, still go bankrupt.
Lockdown
Narinx emphasizes that a new lockdown is harmful for entrepreneurs, should a new mutation of the corona virus break out. “It doesn’t help. It is the branches that pay the price for the health of the Netherlands. It will only happen to you as an entrepreneur.”
For the time being, the LWV director is satisfied with the Dutch economic response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. “All countries draw one line: the Netherlands is not trying to do something that Germany is doing. And the government is trying to suppress inflation.” Narinx does believe that an investment scheme would be useful to stimulate the economy. “Perhaps a premium, if you as an entrepreneur make choices to continue investing.”