ISA warns of black market activity in spa and beauty sector
The Irish Spa Association (ISA) has said that it is being contacted weekly with reports of spa and beauty treatments being carried out in private homes, with appointments being made via word-of-mouth and WhatsApp.
It noted that between lockdowns last year, such treatments were done in sanitised and carefully managed beauty salons and spas, and there is no evidence to suggest these settings led to outbreaks of Covid-19
“Business owners are at breaking point,” said Anita Murray, co-found or the ISA. “Our sector was closed on 24 December 2020. It appears to be nonsensical that legitimate salons and spas are not allowed to trade while a pent-up demand for these essential personal grooming services – particularly coming into the better weather – is thriving within households, outside of a controlled salon or spa setting, and posing a greater risk around the spread of Covid-19.”
Following the Government’s most recent announcement on the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, when the hair and beauty industry was slated to reopen in May, the ISA noted that there was still no set date.
“No date has been provided,” it said in a social media post. “Consideration will be given after 4 May. The ISA will continue to lobby for a full reopening with no exceptions. The supports in place are no longer adequate for these prolonged restrictions and we are calling for urgent revisions.”
The ISA recently called for commercial rent supports to prevent thousands of beauty businesses from closing their doors permanently. In a letter to the Government, it outlined a number of urgent requests for consideration, including an upward review of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS); consideration around commercial rent support; consideration around antigen testing as one of the many means to explore to resume trading; a reduction in VAT; and an extension of the wage subsidy supports to the end of 2021.
“While people can’t meet their mortgage repayments and commercial liabilities, they are turning to providing black market beauty treatments,” said Murray. “We are bewildered at this stage as to why beauty and spa businesses in Ireland are not allowed to open with safety protocols in place.”
