Decision To Close Restaurants During Feb Was Unfair, Says Restaurant Owners As They Lament Losses

The cabinet’s decision to impose restrictions during the National and Liberation to curb the spread of coronavirus has affected many businesses financially. Several Restaurant owners suffered losses due to the closure of dine-in option in restaurants during the last week of February, Al-Rai daily reported.

The cabinet recently imposed restrictions on restaurants to limit their services to only takeaway and delivery services. This year’s National Days celebrations were harsh on businesses. An official in charge of a store located on Sha’ara Mata‘am (Restaurant Street) in the Salmiya area explained that the business has decreased by more than 50 percent.

He says, “Earlier when a customer used to enter the store to order, he would end up ordering other things that he spotted inside the restaurant. However, with the current decision to prevent the entry of customers, the sale is based only on what the customer requests. So the difference is big between the current movement and the sale movement during the same period last year.”

Several coffee shop owners in different regions wished for the end of the corona crisis so that life can return to normal and their business can flourish once again as was the case before March 2020.

Executive Director of Al-Muhaisin Group and the owner of Al-Muhaisen Palace Restaurant Osama Al Muhaisen said this period was the worst for not only them but for all restaurants. He said that he hopes that the government takes a clear decision as to when these restrictions would be lifted. As the restaurant owner need to develop a specific strategy.

The restaurants in the Sharq area are also suffering losses, the sales did not even reach even 15 percent when compared to the same period last year.

General Manager of Mughal Mahal Restaurant in Sharq area Sushil Kumar, who has been working in this restaurant for 26 years, explained that the decision to prevent dine-in service inside the restaurant has affected their work significantly.

They understand the reasons behind the government’s decision which is mainly to protect people from the COVID-19 virus. However, educating people about the necessity of social distancing and the use of masks and sanitizers would be more useful and would help businesses to move forward with their work.

He said, “We depend on these holidays a great deal. Such decisions have caused a great loss for us, which will cause the inability to pay labor wages or rents. We welcome precautionary decisions, as the pandemic does not have a specific expiry date, and we have to live with it”.

Furthermore, the owner of a major restaurant that was established more than 30 years ago, and has many branches and more than 500 employees said, “We welcome all the health precautionary decisions taken by the Kuwait government to limit the effects of the pandemic, but this does not mean that we shut down our economy”.

He demanded a strict decision against those who are not committed to the quarantine measures and contribute to transmitting the virus to others. He said he believes the decision taken in terms of the restaurants was not fair, as the restaurants did not record any COVID-19 cases because they take all measures including social distancing, use of sanitizers, requiring everyone to wear masks, and keeping the tables clean continuously. He stressed that they have large monthly obligations in terms of payment of rents and salaries for their employees.

 

SOURCE : TIMES KUWAIT

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