On Tuesday, the representation of the food trade branch at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) expressed clear criticism of the political announcements about the reintroduction of the mask requirement.
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“The food trade has absolutely no understanding for a renewed need for daily grocery masks, because the industry has never been a driver of the infection process. There is no increased risk of infection here because the duration The stay is short and there is no close contact between the customers, “says Christian Prauchner, president of the trade association of the food trade of the WKÖ.
“Absolutely incomprehensible”
“Therefore, it is absolutely incomprehensible that the government continues to go round in circles with its Corona policy and now wants to re-impose a mask obligation on the food trade, which would not only place a heavy burden on our customers, but especially on our employees. . ” Prauchner.
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A renewed mask requirement would be a devastating signal to the roughly 130,000 employees of the national food trade, who maintain the local supply of the Austrian population in roughly 9,400 locations every day, Prauchner warns.
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Thousands of vacancies
“After the announcement by Federal Minister Rauch, many employees of the food trade want to resign and move to sectors without mandatory masks. There is the threat of an increased staff shortage in the food trade in the winter,” warns the industry representative. Because there are already thousands of vacancies in the food trade.
“We will do everything possible to continue to maintain security of supply for the population in the usual quality across the board. However, we also need sufficient staff for this. The renewed threat of a mandatory mask would greatly exacerbate the current shortage of supplies. personal, “says Prauchner.
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Prauchner therefore asks to finally learn from the two and a half years of the pandemic and to rely on personal responsibility. “Everyone can voluntarily wear a mask and get the 4th point. We must learn to live with the virus and focus on people’s personal responsibility – and this also in autumn and winter,” Prauchner concludes.
