MHRA calls for Hospitality Employees Vaccination

Added: 25 April 2021

Re-open restaurants on Monday 26 April.
Vaccinate all hospitality employees before 1 June.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) is urging the Government to reopen restaurants including restaurants in hotels that are not even permitted to serve breakfast, on Monday 26th April – same as non-essential shops.

Restaurants have been amongst the worst economic victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and after a very long tough year the MHRA is asking for the reopening of the restaurants on the 26 April and the tourism market on 1st June 2021.

The association acknowledges that managing the re-opening of restaurants is critical to restrict spikes of COVID-19 related infections. However, restaurant owners have reached a point where they cannot wait any longer as their situation has become dire, MHRA is stressing.

“Operating a restaurant involves a lot of overheads, and these are not just employee wages,” explained MHRA President Tony Zahra. “Many restaurant owners are reaching a breaking point waiting as to what is going to happen with their and their employees’ livelihoods. We now need a clear plan so that we all know where we stand and therefore can prepare our operations for what is an already very difficult situation.”

MHRA is also lobbying the Health Authorities so that employees working in the tourism sector will, as critical economic front liners, be all vaccinated before the re-opening of the tourism market on the 1st of June 2021. This is important because it re-enforces the message that Malta is a safe destination, whilst ensuring that any risks of extraordinary exposure to COVID-19 infections are effectively managed and ensuring the well-being of all those involved.