SaveJobs, a collective effort by various small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) concerned about ongoing challenges they face, launched this morning.
Organisations that have joined the campaign include RGDATA headed by Tara Buckley, ISME, ICADA, the Family Business Network, the Federation of Early Childcare Providers and the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI)
The main issue raised by campaigners is the “lack of government appreciation” for SMEs.
Emphasis was placed on “the pivotal role played by local, independent businesses in towns and villages across the country.”
Key Principles
As part of their membership of the campaign, representative bodies have put forward two key principles they are united on.
The first is that SMEs require pro-rata representation in policy decision-making processes.
Member bodies are concerned that, though SMEs employ some 60% of the Irish workforce, they are underrepresented in decision making.
The campaign is asking for representation when employment terms and conditions are discussed at the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF).
The second principle is that in its current form, the Living Wage will negatively impact businesses and jobs.
SMEs in Ireland, already competing with rising costs and VAT, cannot keep up with higher wages that large enterprises can.
The campaign has expressed concern that a benchmarked Living Wage will force SMEs who cannot keep up to close.
SaveJobs hopes to address these and other challenges faced by SMEs.
Supporters have been asked to sign a pledge and write to local representatives about the issues faced by SMEs.
‘A Crucial Step’
Speaking about the formation of the campaign, chief executive of the RAI Adrian Cummins said, “For many months, as a reaction to the current spate of restaurant and café closures being witnessed across the country, the Restaurant Association of Ireland’s primary aim has been to advocate for policies that will save businesses and save jobs.
“We expect that the SaveJobs campaign will provide a crucial step towards the RAI’s aim of saving small, independent food-led hospitality businesses across the country.”
Cummins expressed concern at the current VAT rate for food businesses and the rising operational costs within the hospitality sector.
He said, “It is time that the government hears the collective voice of SME owners loud and clear: enough is enough.”
The RAI has over 3,000 members and is the representative body for restaurants, cafés, gastropubs and other food-led businesses in Ireland.
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