The Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) is calling on the Government to introduce a number of measures to help businesses with rising costs.
A recent survey of members by the IHF highlighted the difficulties they are facing due to the introduction of new legislation, including an increase to the national minimum wage and employees’ entitlement to paid sick leave.
The industry body has renewed its request to have the VAT rate reduced from 13.5% to 9%. It also wants a reduction in the level of employers' PRSI and believes businesses should be given 10 years to repay tax deferred from the pandemic.
“At the moment it's up to five years or 60 months, but I think some salons could be looking at repayments of between €50,000 and €100,000,” said IHF president Lisa Eccles. “So for those kind of levels, it just doesn't make business very viable to be trying to make those repayments.
“Energy, stock items and insurance costs continue to soar. We urgently require an increase in supports for hiring trainees and tackling the shadow economy. If we do not see change now, more and more salons will have to permanently close their doors.”
To address the crisis, the IHF is calling for an urgent meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Minister of State for Employment and Trade Neale Richmond.