The Maharashtra government has reportedly extended the restaurant timings slot from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with the simultaneous addition of a new clause for which the industry says is unrealistic.
As per the earlier stated guidelines, hotels and restaurants can operate till 10 pm across the state adhering to 50 per cent seating capacity from August 15. But as per the latest issued notice on August 11, under the new clause restaurant staff should be compulsorily vaccinated.
“Unlike malls, it is not mandatory for people coming in restaurants to be fully vaccinated but the condition that only double vaccinated employees can work in restaurants is not possible,” said Katiyar.
“If we read this (order) carefully it will mean that on August 15 many restaurants will shut shop because they will not have an adequate number of people who are double vaccinated to run the restaurants. A good idea is getting defeated because of these clauses. Lack of clarity of will lead to confusion,” the NRAI president averred.
He further said: “To have every employee double vaccinated is not possible because most of the workforce is in the age group of 18-45 and the vaccination for them started only in April.”
“How is it possible to vaccinate everybody so fast? There are vaccination availability issues to date. While NRAI is conducting a vaccination drive, 84 days (gap) cannot be shortened,” he added.
The NRAI will deliver its appeal by writing a letter to the government requesting them to rethink the new vaccination clause. “We have started informal discussions,” asserted Katiyar.
“If this clause is reconsidered then it is a great relief because it opens restaurants for one part of dinner which is not bad considering dinner constitutes 70 per cent of our business. Even if I add 30 per cent to my business it is a lot right now,” added Katiyar.