According to a survey by Abrasel, 42% of companies have overdue debts with taxes, suppliers or public services.| Photo: Bigstock

A survey conducted in June by the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel) reveals that a large number of companies in the sector are in arrears with financial commitments. According to the survey, carried out with 2,615 businessmen in the sector, 42% of the establishments have overdue debts with taxes, suppliers or public services.

Among the companies that have overdue debts, 80% owe federal taxes, such as Income Tax, PIS/Cofins or Simples installments; while 53% have debt related to state taxes. In addition, 35% declared pendencies with labor charges; 26% with municipal taxes; 26% with water, electricity, gas or telephone services; 22% have debts with input suppliers; and 19% are behind on their rent.

The survey also revealed that 21% of companies worked at a loss in May, maintaining the same index as the previous month. However, there was an increase in the number of companies that made a profit (from 37% in April to 43% in May) and a decrease in companies in financial equilibrium (from 41% to 35%).

“Today, about 10% of revenues, on average, is committed to debt”, says the President of Abrasel, Paulo Solmucci, about the delicate moment that the sector is experiencing.