RAI seeks current wage support rates into ‘22
“Continued wage supports are vital for the sector as the good weather and staycations end.” – Adrian Cummins.
The RAI’s Asks also include the retention of the 9% Tourism & Hospitality VAT Rate until 2025 and the implementation of a ‘real time’ voucher scheme similar to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
The extension of existing Work Permits and Visas currently in place in light of the pandemic closure months is also being sought as is the inclusion of Front-Of-House roles in the Work Permits themselves.
The RAI also seeks the immediate implementation of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 recommendations “to bring equality to employer payments of Traditional/Craft and new (post-2016) apprenticeships and permit bursaries”.
In speaking about the asks of the restaurant and wider hospitality industry RAI Chief Executive Adrian Cummins said, “Our members, including restaurants, gastropubs, cafés and caterers, have been economically flattened by the necessary public health restrictions over the last 18 months and now that the sector is slowly reopening, albeit still restricted, our shift must now focus to sustaining and reviving the sector.
“Continued wage supports are vital for the sector as the good weather and staycations end. Financial supports to enable the sector to re-employ staff and adapt and grow until international tourism returns are paramount to ensuring the continued survival of the hospitality sector, a vital element of our domestic and international tourism offering.”
Other Asks in the RAI’s Sustaining & Reviving Ireland’s Restaurant & Hospitality Sector submission include the establishement of a National Tourism and Hospitality Training Authority, a review of Tourism state agencies and the establishment of a Restaurant & Hospitality Forum.
The Association also seeks “an industry-developed Tourism Policy”, a “Tourism Satellite Account” and actioning of the Alliance for Insurance Reform’s asks as well as no further increase to the Minimum Wage in the short-term.
Among its other Asks: a review of the rates calculation to reflect a more fair and propositional valuation for all business types and a review of other associated business costs such as the regulatory licensing and utility costs on businesses.
