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The closure of non-food stores ordered by the Federal Council was “a severe blow” for retail, Swiss Retail wrote on Wednesday. This will take many companies to an existential position.
The stable or moderately declining number of infections and hospitalizations should be seen as a positive sign, even if assessing the current situation is difficult due to the coronavirus mutation. This unclear situation should not have led to the imposition of premature consequences to the detriment of Switzerland’s largest employer with 310,000 jobs, emphasized the Swiss Federation of Retailers.
Retailers are frustrated: The closing of the store is a “hard blow”(03:08)
Great uncertainty among employees
In his press release he also states that retail, as is always communicated and confirmed by internal assessments regarding sick leave, is not a source of infection. Although retail has been adaptable, proactive and exemplary in the “light of the lockdown,” it is now being disproportionately punished with a lockdown.
For retail employees, the prospect of reduced work due to store closings is very stressful and creates great uncertainty. The renewed closure of stores that do not sell items of daily use would mean a monthly loss of sales of about 3.2 billion francs in Switzerland.
The Covid-19 hardship ordinance has so far been too short-sighted in the event of a shutdown to aid retailers directly or indirectly affected, Swiss Retail emphasized. Immediately demand a “moderate” fixed-cost contribution from the federal government. (SDA / koh)
