Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
The government said it is leaving mask wearing a matter of choice for the customers and retailers, although it does advise wearing masks in crowded places.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “It is a real mess. Protection for retail workers through wearing face covering and maintaining social distancing in busy public areas like shops should be backed up by the law”.
In contrast to the position in England, the Welsh government today joined the Scottish government in continuing to make mask wearing mandatory in shops after 19 July.
Usdaw welcomed this, as did the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which found in a poll of its members that 92% thought masks and social distancing should remain in place in certain settings after 19 July.
Kate Thompson, CIEH Wales director, said: “The existence of differing rules across the UK will cause enforcement challenges, with our members already having expressed concern at the lack of clarity about the ‘personal choice’ policy in England when deciding what protections to adopt and what will work in workplace settings.
“Businesses still have a duty to mitigate and manage risks and Covid -19 remains a significant risk.”
Independent retailer Tuffins runs one shop in Wales, at Welshpool, and one in England, at Craven Arms, so is managing with two different sets of rules.
Managing director Paul Delves said that each store would be following the letter of the law in both countries, so that staff and customers at the Craven Arms store will be given the choice of whether to wear a mask or not, while at Welshpool masks will remain compulsory.
Delves said: “My view is that it should still be the law. I just feel it would be safer to wear a facemask, for a few weeks at least, but we just make sure that we follow the regulations.”
