Jersey Chamber is calling for more information on the latest changes made by the Government. Businesses also need to understand any plans to extend the co-funding support for those affected.
With a further four-week delay in moving to Stage 7 of the reconnection programme and also ‘strongly recommending that if you can work from home you should do so’ Chamber is urging the Government for clarity on what is planned for businesses.
Chamber President, Jennifer Carnegie commented:
“`We are working with Government to emphasise that the four-week delay will have a really detrimental effect on businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors. These have had the worst experiences of Covid and in many cases they are desperately trying to keep their businesses afloat, to provide a service to customers and cope with paying their staff. There will be precious little left of a summer season with a long winter ahead, so Government support, which has been so successful so far, should be extended in these cases. Otherwise, jobs and livelihoods will be at stake.
Safety and health of our communities are obviously paramount, and we strongly support data-led decision making and an appropriate balance of risk. For businesses and the public to make informed decisions in relation to Government recommendations, we need greater insights into the efficacy of the vaccine programme. Is the programme working to keep people out of hospital? If so, what are the reasons for halting the progress we have all been working towards? If not how significant is this new threat? We would like to understand why the focus is not on the low hospitalisation numbers, rather than the expected higher positive case results?”
Chamber is currently receiving many frustrated calls from hospitality businesses where they are struggling to remain open, with a combination of contact tracing and lack of seasonal staff inhibiting them from maintaining normal opening hours and staffing at a time when Jersey is also conveying a message of being ‘open for business.’ Dialogue with Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and Chamber is ongoing today, to monitor this situation and we are hopeful that some form of agreement on support for businesses that are forced to close or reduce hours can be reached.
Jersey Chamber of Commerce Press Release.