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Hotels & restaurants across Maharashtra hold silent protests on closure of operations
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Saturday, 10 April, 2021, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Hospitality Associations across the State including the FHRAI, HRAWI, NRAI, AHAR and other local Associations organised statewide silent protests against Maharashtra Government’s recent ‘Break the Chain' order. Organised under the United Hospitality Forum of Maharashtra (UHF), the associations initiated campaign ‘Mission Rozi Roti' to highlight the hospitality industry’s desperate bid for survival, lakhs of restaurants participated in the silent protest with their employees standing outside the establishments holding placards. The campaign has gained momentum on social media with several restaurateurs and hoteliers in the State posting pictures, messages, and videos showing support and solidarity to the campaign.
Sherry Bhatia, President, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India, said, “The hospitality industry demands fair play and justice. We request Government to either allow us to continue regular operations with the mandated SOPs or permanently shut us down, rather than keep us half alive and in a state of misery. Whenever there is a rise in Covid-19 cases, the hospitality industry is targeted and victimised. We operate in the safest of environments and follow all the mandated compliances. A majority of the establishments have mounting debts and face threats of insolvency along with millions of jobs losses. With fear of losing jobs like last year, many workers have begun to leave for their homes again. After last year’s lockdown, the hospitality industry is in turmoil and is just not in a position to bear any more losses. Through our silent protests today, we are requesting Government to allow us to resume our work and if not, Government must take care of our incomes. The industry should get a complete waiver on all statutory fees and taxes, and establishments should not be billed for water and electricity for the duration of the curbs.”
The impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry has been extremely disruptive. Among all the core sectors of the economy, hospitality was the first one to fall and is going to be the last to recover. It has become the biggest causality of the pandemic in the country.
Pradeep Shetty, joint secretary, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, said, “The industry lost all its business after the first lockdown came into effect and the zero-business scenario remained for 7 to 10 months during last year. But our rental obligations, salary expenses, servicing of debts and statutory payments continued all through this period. As of today, 30 per cent of the hotels and restaurants in the country have shut down permanently. Over 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants haven’t opened fully after the lockdown. The remaining 50 per cent continue to run in losses and revenues are below 50 per cent of the pre-Covid levels. Our businesses are under immense financial stress and the latest ‘Break the Chain’ order is equivalent to another complete lockdown. We assure Government that the industry is committed to following all the health and safety protocols and has our unwavering support towards the various efforts to combat the pandemic. We humbly request Government to look into this genuine request of the hospitality industry and extend support in our fight for survival.”
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