- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
article_detail
Date Published: 12/11/2020
ARCHIVED - 3,000 to 10,000 euros in compensation for bars and restaurants forced to close in Murcia Region
Elements of the sector continues to protest about the “crumbs” of support being given
A good deal of prominence has been given in the Murcia news over the last few days to the enforced closure of bars and restaurants throughout the Region following the imposition by the regional government of a 2 week shutdown, which began at midnight on Friday in an effort to curb the increase in Covid incidence rates during the second wave of the pandemic.
Ignoring the pleas of the minister for Health in the Murcia government, thousands of residents flocked to the bars on Friday evening to enjoy a last evening of conviviality and to show support for their local watering holes and restaurants, and the following day noisy and well-supported protests were staged by the owners of the establishments affected in Cartagena and elsewhere in the Region.
But while not forgetting the difficulties being faced by these businesses, it should also be remembered that on Saturday, while the protests were taking place in the streets, an agreement was signed by Fernando López Miras, the president of the Murcia government, and José María Albarracín, president of the Croem business federation, by which around 8,000 bars and restaurants will receive support to the tune of an estimated 15 million euros in order to compensate them for the latest forced closure, helping to safeguard the jobs of around 39,000 people.
Specifically, the support available, as decided in meetings which included the Hostecar and Hostemur associations representing bars and restaurants in the cities of Cartagena and Murcia, and which are on top of other support programmes already undertaken at a further cost of 25 million euros, are as follows:
For hospitality establishments with between 1 and 5 staff: 3,000 euros
For hospitality establishments with between 6 and 19 staff: 4,000 euros
For hospitality establishments with between 20 and 49 staff: 7,500 euros
For hospitality establishments with 50 or more staff: 10,000 euros
For accommodation businesses: 10,000 euros as of January
For banqueting halls and night clubs: 5,000 euros as of January
(The last two categories listed are to be included in the 2021 budget)
Businesses in many other sectors, where they have not been forced to close down but are operating on far lower levels of turnover due to the effects of the pandemic, are not receiving any financial support other than being offered loans at advantageous rates and in only a few cases are town halls waiving rubbish collection charges or offering any sort of local support (in Cartagena for example rubbish and water charges are being waived); it could be argued that the bars and restaurants of Murcia have not come off as badly as they might have feared in the measures imposed by the Murcia government: this, indeed, is the view taken by Jesús Jiménez, the president of Hostemur in the city of Murcia.
Sr Jiménez explains that this is “the best agreement we could have reached” for the sector. He claims to be “proud” to be saving as many businesses as possible, although at the same time is upset at the way in which he feels the sector has been “criminalized”.
At the same time, Hostemur recognizes that there is simply not enough money in the Murcia government coffers to fully maintain any sector of the economy while it is closed down, and although the feeling is one of being unfairly treated they have to accept that there are limits to the aid which can be provided. In other words, while accepting the terms and opting not to hold protests or join in with the protests such as the large demonstration planned for this weekend in other towns and cities, they view the compensation as little more than “crumbs of comfort”, and maintain that the money provided is not enough for the government to be able to claim that it is saving the sector from going out of business.
In Cartagena, on the other hand, the tone of the Hostecar organization has been rather less conciliatory and on Saturday protesting waiters, bar staff and chefs were joined on the streets by taxi drivers, food and drinks distributors, maintenance professionals and laundry workers, all of whom stand to see their livelihoods affected by the closure of bars and restaurants. Many of those providing ancillary services, of course, are not included in the compensation packages agreed on, and with the Christmas and New Year season already severely affected, their losses will be significant.
Taxi drivers provide an interesting example, many of them complaining that their evening fares previously consisted largely of those heading into the centre of Cartagena for a night out and needing transport home. It is entirely understandable that they will lose a significant amount of money due to the closures, and it is true that whereas at least the hostelries themselves are to receive some form of compensation, they are excluded.
Taking a broader view, it is inevitable and obvious that there are very few businesses in Spain which have remained immune to the financial and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For a number of reasons, bars and restaurants have been identified as important sources of contagion and have therefore been restricted or closed by regional governments all over the country, including that of Murcia, where compensation, albeit necessarily limited, is being made available. Catalunya was the first to impose such a measure and faced widespread hostility from the sector; today the closure of hostelry businesses in Catalunya has been extended again for a further 10 days. Since the Catalan ban was first imposed, several regions have gone on to ban the opening of the sector altogether, the widespread opinion of the scientific community being that the hostelry sector provides a focal point for gatherings and encourages the spread of the virus in spite of the efforts being made by the sector.
As we know by now all too well, even going to the washroom could potentially spread the virus, as all it takes is for the door handle to have been touched by someone who didn´t wash their hands when leaving the washroom for the virus to spread to somebody else; covid will take any opportunity presented.
There is absolutely no denying that those running hostelry businesses deserve support and many people are missing them, but at the same time many other businesses are suffering similarly dire financial straits; it has been said by some local business owners that they would prefer to be forced to close down for this period and given some form of financial support rather than struggle on with reduced staffing, a collapse in income and hardly any customers because nobody can cross municipal borders, yet must still pay full rent, rates, social security contributions, insurance, lighting and other costs in full.
Obviously the national and regional governments cannot hand over an envelope full of cash to every business in the country without borrowing money which will have to be paid back somehow by the public over many years to come, but at least those in the hostelry sector are fortunate to have been offered some sort of compensation for this 2 week period of closure.
The Murcian regional government maintains that an extensive programme of support from the national government is required to save jobs in the hostelry sector, and aid should be given nationally. But this is the same problem facing governments all over the world who must decide how much economic activity must be sacrificed in order to keep the death count down and hospital occupancy at manageable levels.
Business owners wishing to apply for the subsidies should speak to their asesor or if they belong to Hostemur or Hostecar, support offices have been opened for hostelry businesses and of course, their employees.
Find more information by AREA, TOWN or URBANISATION .....
Cabo de Palos
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
Aguilas
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
Abanilla
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Urbanisations
CamposolCondado de Alhama
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Torre Golf Resort
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Mazarron Country Club
Mosa Trajectum
Peraleja Golf Resort
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
La Zenia
Lomas de Cabo Roig
Important Topics:
CAMPOSOL TODAY Whats OnCartagena SpainCoronavirusCorvera Airport MurciaMurcia Gota Fria 2019Murcia property news generic threadWeekly Bulletin
CAMPOSOL TODAY Whats OnCartagena SpainCoronavirusCorvera Airport MurciaMurcia Gota Fria 2019Murcia property news generic threadWeekly Bulletin
Contact Murcia Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268