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The restaurants are asking the government for a “change of strategy” to end restrictions on opening hours, accounting for billing losses of more than 70% in the last quarter and asking for more support.
“Three months of continuous restrictive measures cause abrupt breaks in billing, amounting to 70% of billing over the same period,” says the national restaurant association PRO.VAR, in a statement released this Friday, in which it establishes a Cause-effect between this drop in collection and “the increase in unemployment (50 thousand unemployed), partial closure, bankruptcies and insolvencies of the sector (more than 10 thousand establishments)”.
“PRO.VAR understands that the strategy adopted by the Government, in the reduction of hours and closure of catering establishments, has null effects in the fight against the Pandemic and serious economic consequences for the sector,” they defend in a statement, in the that warn of growing discontent. customers.
According to the association, “now it is the clients themselves who are protesting against the measures,” who express their “incomprehension” at the reduction in hours that promote gatherings and hasty meals on festive dates, such as the end of the year.
PRO.VAR wishes that in this new year the Government change the strategy of restrictions and ask for more supervision and strong sanctions for those who do not comply with safety regulations. Another wish is related to support, waiting for the Government to approve ”. asks the association in a statement.
Among the support claimed is an APOIAR 2.0 program to cover part of the fixed costs for the last quarter, “which are estimated at 1,400 million euros, the result of an annual loss of 70% of 2,000 million euros.”
Restaurants also request a 100% exemption from the Single Social Rate (TSU); greater support for rentals “in value and on time”; and the reduction of VAT on catering, “to allow a faster recovery.”
Portugal represents at least 6,972 deaths associated with covid-19 in 420,629 confirmed cases of infection, according to the latest bulletin from the Directorate General of Health (DGS).
The state of emergency decreed on November 9 to combat the pandemic was renewed until January 7, with mandatory curfews in the counties with the highest risk of contagion.
The Government decided to maintain the measures envisaged for Christmas, but aggravated those of the New Year period, with curfews starting at 11 p.m. on December 31, and starting at 1 p.m. on December 1, 02 and 03. from January.
It is also prohibited to move between municipalities between 00:00 on December 31 and 05:00 on January 4.
The operation of restaurants throughout the continental territory is allowed until 10:30 p.m. on the last day of the year, and until 1:00 p.m. on January 01, 02 and 03.
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