County Kildare Chamber this morning (11th May 2020) welcomed the launch and publication by Government of the new National “Return to Work Safely” Protocol.
The Protocol serves as a framework to support employers and employees to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace when the economy begins to slowly open.
Allan Shine CEO of County Kildare Chamber, the business organisation in Kildare representing 400 companies said,
“The process involved in re-opening the economy will not be a simple one. Ensuring the health and safety of workers, employers and consumers continues to be our shared goal. As businesses around the country plan for how they will adapt to operating during a pandemic, the Protocol will be an essential framework to enable that.
This new announcement comes with a further cost burden for business with the potential of the hire of new staff. Reopening a work place has now become more difficult with the new procedures. The pressure now is immense on business owners and the requirement for financial assistance is essential. Many businesses after this announcement will question the viability of reopening.
Over the coming days and week we will be running forums and webinars addressing our members concerns on the Protocol and how it applies to the business community in Kildare.