Restaurants struggle to fill staff vacancies ahead of reopening Loss of staff abroad, the cost of living and reluctance to come off PUP cited as factors
about 3 hours ago Updated: about an hour ago Jade Wilson
After months of shutdown it should be a time of optimism for restaurants and hospitality outlets as reopening approaches. But many in the sector say they now face a new problem of staff shortages and difficulties rehiring.
Despite safety protocols applied by venues, hiring difficulties persist due to a range of factors, owners say, including fears over the possibility of future lockdowns, staff leaving the sector for other jobs or to move abroad, and the persistently high cost of living.
Group representing restaurants calling for acceleration to reopening of indoor dining The call comes after it was announced yesterday indoor dining would return in Northern Ireland on May 24th.
Six people will be allowed sit together, with no limit on the number of households they can be from.
Up to 500 people will also be able to attend an outdoor event. While the Irish Cup Final will be allowed to have 1,000 spectators.
Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, says the government here needs to allow indoor dining to reopen in June: We are calling on Irish Government now to follow suit with the Northern Ireland executive and accelerate the reopening of indoor dining in line with Northern Ireland, we re scheduled to reopen on the 7th of June for outdoor hospitality, we re asking the government now to bring that forward and have all indoor dining and all restaurants and hotels, from the second of June, at the latest.
Numbers claiming PUP down over 8,500 on last week
Updated / Tuesday, 11 May 2021
15:54
Industry and Employment Correspondent
The Department of Social Protection has advised employers facing difficulties in re-hiring staff to contact it so that it can follow up with the workers concerned.
The advice comes as the latest Department figures reveal that the number of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week has dropped to 376,600.
This marked a decrease of more than 8,500 over the last seven days.
The PUP figures do not include a further 178,000 people recorded on the Live Register as of the end of April.
The Department said it noted concerns expressed in recent days regarding employers facing difficulties in re-hiring staff.
SEPT SUPPORT
Calls for September bank holiday to reward Irish public and support recovery for tourism sector losing €27m a day
Updated: 10 May 2021, 18:42
THE Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has urged the Irish government to introduce a one-off bank holiday this September to stretch the domestic tourism season and reward the public.
The business group, representing Ireland s major hospitality groups including Aer Lingus, The Irish Hotels Federation and Restaurants Association of Ireland, claim the extra day off would benefit both the hospitality industry and the hard-pressed public following months of closure.
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The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has called for a September public holiday for IrelandCredit: Alamy
Dining outside not viable for popular Tullamore restaurant
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From June 7, outdoor services at bars and restaurants can resume with groups limited to six people.
While this spells good news for some, it will not suit many others who don t have the facilities to allow for outdoor dining or drinking.
Kenan Pehlivan and Sarah Thomas own and run the popular Blue Apron restaurant on Harbour Street in Tullamore. For Kenan opening on the footpath is a non runner. The street is not wide enough for tables and chairs, plus the amount of money we would have to spend.it s not viable. We also don t like blocking the path with tables and chairs, it doesn t leave enough space to walk on the path.