“We do not eat this soup alone”: Hundreds of restaurateurs take to the streets of the city of Lucerne in search of better help from Corona



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Coronavirus

“We do not eat this soup alone”: Hundreds of restaurateurs take to the streets of the city of Lucerne for a better help from Corona

Nearly 500 people from the catering industry armed with pipes, pans and ladles followed a call from the industry association in Lucerne on Tuesday to demonstrate for more state aid in the crown crisis.

“We don’t eat this soup alone.”

Image: Pius Amrein (Lucerne, December 22, 2020)

(sda) The protesters made a lot of noise to vent their anger and draw attention to their concerns. In addition to banners with inscriptions such as “25, cook, uncertain future”, “Who’s boss, pays” or “Help now!” When they moved, they were carrying a simulated bomb with the inscription: “The gastrobombe is ticking.”

Homeowners hardly benefit from hardship payments

The Gastro-Lucerne Association had called a demonstration on Mühlenplatz because, in their opinion, the help due to difficulties from the federal government and the canton was insufficient. Lucerne’s compassionate use program amounts to 25 million francs. Of this amount, 8.58 million Swiss francs comes from the federal government.

Companies can apply for aid from December 15. It must have suffered a drop in sales of at least 40 percent compared to previous years. Gastro Luzern contends that almost no homeowner can request hardship payments. Patrick Grinschgl, President of Gastro Region Lucerne, initial experiences have shown that the vast majority of companies do not meet the 40 percent threshold. A reduction to 34 percent would already help.

Video: Silva Schnurrenberger / Keystone-SDA

Association demands sales compensation

In addition, the association is demanding, retrospectively as of December 1, a compensation for sales in the restoration of 30 percent of the previous month as amount à-fonds-perdu. Businesses would have operating expenses such as salaries, heating expenses, insurance, or rent that they would have to pay. With an average profit of 3 percent from annual sales, the industry was short of provisions, Grinschgl said. “We don’t need any more loans.” Short-term liquidity must be guaranteed.

Therefore, the hardship rule should be adjusted to allow greater flexibility in the distribution of loans and contributions to the lost fund. Also, the drop in sales will be settled by quarter. The authorities would also have to take action on rents and leases. As in other cantons, the costs will be borne by the tenant, the owner and the public sector up to one third.



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