According to Amangeldiev, including this charge in bills is illegal as it violates consumer rights. “The catering sector has recently shown a significant increase in prices. We have brought this in line with the law,” he noted during a speech in parliament.
Earlier, the Ministry of Economy reported that catering establishments should optimize their prices and offer a 10% discount on orders and takeout of ready-made dishes.
The Antimonopoly Service organized a roundtable with representatives of restaurants and cafes in Bishkek, where issues regarding the formation of prices for catering services were discussed. The meeting was led by Zhanala Orozbaeva with the participation of employees from the Ministry of Economy, the HoReCa Club Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs, and other entrepreneurs.
The discussion touched on changes that came into effect on January 1, namely:
charging for service, delivery, and serving dishes separately from the main order cost is prohibited;
the cost of all catering services must be indicated in the menu or price list;
the final payment amount must not differ from the price indicated in the publicly available price list.
Additionally, the sale of food and services must correspond to the menu, which specifies the price per portion and its weight in grams. Prices for dishes are set by the owners of the establishments.
The Antimonopoly Service emphasized the unacceptability of unjustified price increases. In January, a price increase for dishes was recorded, exceeding 15% in some cafes and restaurants.
Representatives of cafes and restaurants confirmed that starting January 1, the service charge is not collected separately. They explained the price review as a result of:
increased rent;
utility tariffs and fuel costs;
prices for products used in food preparation;
operational expenses, including the purchase of inventory (dishes, napkins, etc.);
increased salaries for employees and tax burdens.
Roundtable participants agreed on the need to optimize prices.
The HoReCa Club Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs will prepare analytical information shortly and submit it to the Antimonopoly Service for joint work on mechanisms to stabilize prices.
