The result of this government crackdown on small businesses is that the number of self employed dropped from 250,000 to 170,000. The Cuban government dealt with private business by implementing tax and licensing procedures to regulate the business of the self employed. Some of these laws make it so business owners cannot have employees. Only family members can act as assistants. Another rule is that private restaurant owners cannot have more than 12 customers at any time.
Health inspections are frequent and fines are given from minor things like dirty dishes.
Another emerging law is the rent law. In 1997, the National Assembly passed a law regulating the rental of rooms and apartments. A responsibility of those who rent is the purchase of a license. Once again someone who rents a room for the night to a tourist and has the room vacant for the rest of the month pays the same amount in taxes as someone who rents their place for the entire month at twice the rate. Economic transition also brings forth consequences of urbanization problems.