Concern over wage subsidy scheme, voluntary redundancies for older BT Arnotts staff, and pubs in trouble

Business Today: the best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

The Porterhouse Group has recorded ‘a very minimal recovery’ in its two Dublin city centre bar-restaurants. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
The Porterhouse Group has recorded ‘a very minimal recovery’ in its two Dublin city centre bar-restaurants. Photograph Nick Bradshaw

The Government's new employment wage subsidy scheme starts today, but lobby groups are warning it will not be enough to stop businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic from having to cut jobs or even close down. Charlie Taylor reports.

Meanwhile, the drinks industry has said the Government's €16 million support package for pubs shows "short-term thinking" and has called for a reduction in excise tax, writes Colin Gleeson.

Even pubs serving food that have been allowed to reopen are feeling the burn; the Porterhouse Group has recorded "a very minimal recovery" in its two Dublin city centre bar-restaurants, where a lack of tourists and office workers has had a massive impact on turnover, writes Gordon Deegan.

Brown Thomas Arnotts, which usually allows employees stay on beyond the age of 65, approached its older workers following the Covid-19 lockdown to offer them a number of options including voluntary redundancy, it has emerged. The retail chain, which is in talks with unions over cutting 150 full-time jobs, says it is conscious of protecting "more vulnerable" staff during the pandemic. Barry O'Halloran has more.

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Ciara Kenny

Ciara Kenny

Ciara Kenny, founding editor of Irish Times Abroad, a section for Irish-connected people around the world, is Editor of the Irish Times Magazine