Retailers say delay of reopening of shops 'at odds with reality and logic'

The government's decision to delay the reopening of non-food shops is "at odds with reality and logic", the director of the Lithuanian Association of Trade Companies said on Wednesday, noting that part of the closed businesses is starting to work illegally.

"That's at odds with reality and logic because the reality is that a significant number of the businesses that are now closed are starting to operate illegally," Ruta Vainiene told BNS.

Out of 19,000 retail businesses, around 5,000 small retailers with low customer flows are closed, according to Vainiene.

"We have a paradoxical situation where 75 percent of retail businesses that have the largest flows are operating, but those that have outdoor entrances aren't allowed to reopen. That's really at odds with logic, and we hear no convincing argument for that," she said.

If the reopening of shops is delayed for long, companies can make radical decisions, such as to shut down for good and lay off their employees, Vainiene warned.

The government decided earlier on Wednesday not to ease the current lockdown restrictions, despite earlier indications that it might allow non-food shops and hairdressers to reopen.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said the Cabinet would discuss possible easing steps next week.