Press

Retail NI has called for a zero-tolerance approach to verbal and physical abuse of shop workers and called for stiffer penalties for those who assault retail staff. The business group’s call comes as shop workers' trade union USDAW revealed that abuse of staff has doubled during the pandemic.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

Commentating on the new Labour Market Statistics published by NISRA this morning, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“These figures are a real cause for concern with unemployment up thirty-three thousand since March and record levels of redundancies. With the Furlough scheme now tapering off, we have a real fear that these figures will worsen over the next few months”

Commenting on today’s decisions reached by the Executive, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts:

“Retail NI and our members will work with the Executive to get its message out to consumers on the mandatory wearing of face coverings in shops. We are reassured by Ministers that retailers and their staff will not be required to police or enforce the wearing of face coverings and it will be the individual responsibility of the shoppers to comply with this law”

Belfast Chamber, Retail NI and Hospitality Ulster hosted the new Shadow Secretary of State, Louise Haigh MP on a walkabout in Belfast City Centre

The three Chief Executives of Retail NI, Belfast Chamber and Hospitality Ulster, Glyn Roberts, Simon Hamilton and Colin Neill said:

“Our three organisations were pleased to host the new Shadow Secretary of State on her first official visit to Belfast and briefed her on the many challenges facing our members at this time”