“The National Association of Restaurants, PRO.VAR did the math and says that, with the current rules, which restrict the limitation, the functioning of spaces and substantially increase costs, it makes restaurants not economically viable”, reads in a press release sent to the media.

On Friday, May 8, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) published a set of rules for restoration, a sector that will start reopening from May 18 in the context of the 19-covid pandemic.

According to the association PRO.VAR, the new rules of the DGS are a “half victory”, because they cannot be dissociated from a “set of proposals to be implemented chronologically”, namely the 'lay-off' for all managing partners and partial for workers, until the end of the year and the "decrease in food VAT from 13% to 6%" for the viability and economic recovery of the sector ".

“In the current context of strong economic downturn, with a very relevant impact on the primary and tertiary sectors, we ask that the reduction be from 13% to 6%, only in food, in order to become a perennial measure.”, he asks.

PRÓ.VAR advocates, in turn, maintaining the VAT rate of 23% in the case of drinks.

In the contingency plan for the resumption of restoration, the association advocates, for example, that customers sit at tables with safe distances, disinfect their hands and measure their body temperature at the entrance of the establishment.

The realization of covid-19 tests to workers every 15 days and the "complete disinfection" of tables and chairs after customers leave are other measures that PRO.VAR proposed to the Government for the sector.