Order to malls to vaccinate all employees in 14 days impractical: RAI

New Delhi, Aug 12 (KNN) The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has welcomed the Maharashtra government's decision to permit malls to remain open till 10 pm from August 15. However, it also said that some clauses in the notification are not easy to meet.

One of such clauses is that staff of the malls should be vaccinated and social distancing norms must be strictly followed. Also, only those vaccinated with both doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be allowed to visit the malls.

"The notification on reopening malls and allowing stores and restaurants to stay open till late is a welcome move. The long pending decision was essential to help people get their jobs back and save their livelihoods. However, it is a mixed blessing for the sector as some clauses in the notification are not easy to meet,'' said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI on Thursday.

He said that this is true for the clause which mandates all employees working in a mall, shops in malls as well as customers to be fully vaccinated with a gap of 14 days between the date of joining /visiting the mall and their second vaccination.

''It is an impractical task as many people working in malls and stores are in the 20-45 years age bracket and therefore not even eligible for getting fully vaccinated. When their eligibility has not been addressed, how can they resume their duties in malls? And how do malls resume operations without its people? We hope the government rethinks the conditions and modifies the order," he added.

Easing the COVID-19-related curbs, the state government has also allowed hotels and restaurants to operate till 10 pm across the state, at 50 per cent seating capacity, from August 15.

As of now, hotels and restaurants were allowed to offer in-dining facilities till only 4 pm, as part of the restrictions imposed to curb the transmission of virus. They were, however, allowed to continue home-delivery and takeaway services as per the usual timings.

Apart from relaxing the operational timing for eateries, the state government has also increased the cap of guests at wedding ceremonies to 200.