Hair and beauty industry voices concerns over staff shortages

The Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (Habic) has told its members that they should contact the Department of Social Protection with any concerns about staff not returning to work.

According to recent media reports, salons are experiencing staff shortages, with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the black market being blamed for staff being reluctant to return to their salon jobs. It has been suggested that some are opting to remain on the PUP, while working from home.

The Hairdressing Council of Ireland said the shadow economy is causing huge damage to the industry and has called for the Government action to tackle it.

“It is a problem across the board,” said Wayne Lloyd, president of the Hairdressing Council and owner of two salons in Cork. “We need to talk about the shadow economy; it is at a crisis point in our industry. The system isn’t working at the moment.”

Habic has told its members that following the reports, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed that in the case of staff members who have been offered a return to work, and who have refused that offer, it will investigate each case fully to ensure that only those who meet the qualifying conditions for PUP remain in payment.

It said that any employer who has difficulty in attracting employees back to the workplace, or suspects that someone is misclaiming welfare income support, can contact the Department, which will review cases where these complaints arise.