“No light at the end of the tunnel” for hospitality workers in Scotland
More than 66,000 workers in Scotland’s pubs, bars and restaurants have been paid less than minimum wage while furloughed, according to estimates in a new report.
The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) has published the findings, and says it “lays bare” the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on some of the lowest earners in the country.
But with warnings that parts of the central belt could be moving to level four restrictions this week, pubs, bars and restaurants in and around Glasgow could face further closure.
Gavin McVicar and Catherineanne Mcafferty both work at a pub in West Dunbartonshire, which is one of the council areas being considered for tighter measures.
“Its a scary thought; it’s very much a ‘no light at the end of a tunnel’ scenario,” Gavin told the Glasgow Standard.
“I am lucky to be on furlough but not everyone is as lucky in our industry – what happens to them with these new restrictions?”
“The first [lockdown] was fair enough and it was a case of everyone is in it together, but now with the different tiers and stuff, it’s more of a worry for me that I may not be able to get back to work.
Catherineanne added: “I understand the health reasons if the government decides to make that decision but it will be tough for hospitality and the central belt as a whole.
“This second type of lockdown has me worried about my financial security a lot more.
“For me I think it’s the fact there is no clear end point to all of this that’s the biggest struggle.”
The STUC report also highlighted the impact coronavirus restrictions have had on the creative industries.
The research found more employees in Scotland’s hospitality and creative sectors were furloughed than in any other industry.
It also shows these sectors had the highest proportion of workers who were furloughed without having their pay topped-up by their employer.
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “Workers across Scotland are suffering during the pandemic, and it doesn’t get much worse than for low paid workers in the culture and hospitality sectors, many of whom work multiple jobs part-time across both industries to make ends meet.
“We know that thousands of self-employed workers and employed workers who did not qualify for furlough are in particularly dire straits. It’s bad news for them, but it’s also bad news for the culture of our country.
“Having dithered throughout the summer, which cost thousands of jobs, the Chancellor’s 11th hour extension of the Furlough Scheme provided at least some relief as unions rushed to support workers in requesting their employers continued or re-employed them on furlough. But even those who have been reprieved have now spent months on far less than the minimum wage.”
Report by Fraser Nicoll and Aidan Macdonald
