Retail chains will have to scratch their wallets over new restrictions: They say there will be a knife for employee salaries

Norfa CEO Dainius Dundulis Delfi has easily calculated how much the access restrictions to the largest stores, which take effect from Monday, will cost his retail network each month.

He explained that if a store with a sales area of ​​more than 1,500 square meters were assigned at least one security guard to review opportunity passports, about 3,000 would be set aside for that store per month. EUR.

“But here is the amount if there is one more person. And if there is more, the amount will increase. There are around 40 stores where such inspections will be required,” said the head of Norfa, clarifying that by roughly calculating the total restrictions for the entire chain retailer per month, the new restrictions will cost around 200-300 thousand EUR.

“This amount is around 5 percent. Our salary fund, which we pay monthly, because with all taxes we pay less than $ 5 million a month. Salaries in euros,” he compared.

D. Dundulis explained that he did not criticize the government’s decision to verify opportunity passports, but emphasized that such decisions are not positive both in terms of labor efficiency and in terms of increasing employee salaries.

“If you want to increase the salaries of the employees as a whole, those things are a knife,” said the manager.

Until now, D. Dundulis has not been able to specify exactly how the passport of opportunity will be verified.

“Frankly, to this day we don’t even know exactly how we will go through passports for opportunities. We are preparing for two scenarios: check at the checkout or at the store entrance. The order will become clear as the sale approaches. date, we will await responses from the authorities.

In general, clarity is always needed when the government makes such decisions, because we need to tell the people clearly how we are going to enforce the restrictions.

Today I read the law for us to talk about service, and there is no language about not being able to go to the store without a passport, ”he said.

Ernesta Dapkienė, director of Maxima’s Image and Communication Department, said the retail chain is prepared to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by the government on September 13.

The implementation of the restrictions, as explained, will also untie a significant amount for the retail chain.

“We estimate that strengthening the management and protection of customer flows will require an additional 300 thousand LTL per month. Euros,” said E. Dapkienė.

Representatives for the retail chain IKI said it would be too early to say how much the costs of passport controls would be incurred, and Lina Skersytė, the public relations representative for Lidl Lietuva, explained that the retail chain is unwilling to disclose amounts. specific. and investments.

Rimi Lietuva representatives assured that it will soon become clear what exactly the opportunity passport check will look like in Rimi stores, and the necessary investments will depend on it.

“In any case, we are ready for the change, and our customers will be informed in detail in the near future on how the vaccination documentation will be verified in the Rimi stores,” the spokeswoman said.

Dominykas Mertinas, head of the communication department at Akropolis Group, similarly hung up.

“We always responsibly comply with the requirements set by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and other institutions, so we will follow the same principles after September 13.

We are currently evaluating different technological solutions that, if necessary, will speed up the passport verification process, ”he said.

The publisher recalls that from September 13 to more than 1,500 square meters. Only people who have a passport of opportunity or immunity and supporting documents will be admitted to the stores.