Alvaro Noboa

Industrial Molinera Reopened

Industrial Molinerafacilities reopened its doors after remaining more than 20 days closed by the Internal Revenue Service(IRS). The IRS removed the closure seals once theindustry representatives presented bank accountdetails.

The IRS closed the company last June because it had not presented the assessments requiredby the control entity.

Last week, a group of workers accompanied the executives of the company for the delivery of documents in the offices ofthe regional management of IRS, and demanded the immediate reopening of the facility.

The workers protested that they had about a month off workand blamed the IRS to pursue an action of political persecution, in which workers were the most affected, they said. Another group argued that because of the closure of the flour factory,bakeries of the city and in several towns in the Coast did not have wheat flour supply, and that is reflected in the highprice of bread and various products made with thatingredient.

"Citizenship is also hurt by the closure of the flour factory and the bread becomes more expensive and scarce," said a worker.

Gustavo Negrete, legal representative of the mill, describedthe closure as a political attack. "Instead of making apresumptive identification, as required by law, they proceeded toclose down Industrial Molinera," saidNegrete.

The law is clear. When the authorities believe they have not received enough information, they have to do apresumptive gloss, which they did not do.