Concern for restaurant sector workers on the rise, new restrictions coming into force
The new restaurant restrictions coming into force on Sunday also apply to terraces. PAM is concerned that they will drive the sector, and those who work in it, into even greater difficulties. President Annika Rönni-Sällinen calls on the government to seek solutions to the emergency right away as the restaurant sector has already suffered most from restrictions.
“The new restrictions will drastically cut working hours. For businesses the situation is alarming and that’s why rapid solutions are needed to support the sector”, says PAM President Annika Rönni-Sällinen, summing up the situation.
The new restaurant restrictions that the government has just approved come into force at midnight on Sunday 8 August. In all areas in the acceleration phase, service of alcoholic beverages will end at 11 pm and restaurants will close at midnight. In areas in the community transmission phase, service of alcoholic beverages will end at 10 pm and restaurants will close at 11 pm. In areas in the community transmission phase, there will also be seating restrictions on the service of alcoholic beverages in outside terraces.
“These new restrictions came in very quickly, so equally quickly decisions are needed on new support measures for the sector on top of the current closure compensation. First of all, a wage payment support programme must be brought in to guarantee both workers’ incomes directly through businesses’ payroll systems and continuity of employment relationships when the restrictions are finally removed altogether”, Rönni-Sällinen continues.
“Moreover, the unpaid five-day waiting period for earnings-related allowance should be removed. And a state-funded temporary increase in earnings-related unemployment security is needed to ease the difficulties faced by workers in crisis sectors. With the Covid crisis and the restrictions placed on business activity, the level of unemployment security for laid-off and dismissed employees should be at least 85-90 per cent of their previous wages”, says Rönni-Sällinen, summing up PAM’s views on the ways in which immediate support should be provided for restaurant sector workers.
The restrictions will come into force in Southwest Finland, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa and the municipalities in the capital city region in the community transmission phase: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.
PAM has also issued statements earlier in the spring on the restrictions in the restaurant sector and how employment in the sector should be highlighted. The statements can be read in full here (in Finnish).