Retail NI meets with Economy Minister – Retailers impacted by ‘pingdemic’
Retail NI has urged the Executive to bring Northern Ireland into line with the English date of 16th August for ‘pinged’ double vaccinated workers to take a PCR test, rather than ten days self-isolation.
Its call comes after Retail NI members reported widespread staff shortages putting huge pressure on their stores remaining open following workers getting ‘pinged’ via the app.
Retail NI met with the Economy Minster on the growing Pingdemic crisis. Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said after the meeting “The Pingdemic is now a fully grown economic crisis”
“This situation is daily getting steadily worse, with serious staff shortages right across the supply chain. We are hearing from members who are on the verge of closing their stores and are running short on a number of product ranges. Many of these member stores, provide food and other vital products to vulnerable and older members of our community, particularly in rural areas”
Urgent and immediate response
“In our meeting with Minister Lyons we emphasised an urgent and immediate response from the Executive to this growing crisis, before shops close and product lines are restricted”
“We need the Executive to urgently allow ‘pinged’ double vaccinated workers to take a PCR test, rather than self-isolation for ten days.”
Serious situation
Glyn Roberts added “This situation is serious, and we need the Executive to act before shops, the supply chain and our wider economy face widespread disruption with staff shortages”
“Independent retailers are struggling in particular given they have a smaller staff teams”
“At the very least we need the Executive to bring Northern Ireland into line with the English date of 16th August, which allows ‘pinged’ double vaccinated workers to take a PCR test, rather than self-isolation for ten days.
“This situation is getting evermore serious by the day, and we need the Executive to act before shops, the supply chain and our wider economy face widespread disruption with staff shortages.
“We have received numerous calls from members this week indicating that they could well have to close because of staff having to self-isolate.”
Disappointment over public hand sanitisers
“Retail NI is also disappointed that the roll out of public hand sanitiser units in our town centres and high streets has been virtually non-existent outside of Belfast City Centre. This needs to happen if we want to reduce transmission of the virus and provide confidence to shoppers” he said.
