Trade union, Usdaw, has welcomed the Welsh government retaining the legal requirement for shoppers to wear face coverings in-store if they are able to.
While the requirement for mandatory face coverings is being phased out in some public venues, face masks will continue in Welsh retail for possibly another month.
“It is sensible and measured to keep the requirement to wear a face-covering in shops,” Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said.
“While Covid appears to be in decline, the pandemic is not over yet. Wearing a face covering protects others and we welcome that the Welsh Government has been clear and consistent on it being mandatory in stores.”
READ MORE: 77% of low-paid workers feel “worse off” than last year, Usdaw warns
Lillis continued: “Usdaw is urging the shopping public to wear a face covering, if they can, to help make shops safer.
“We ask the public to follow the rules and respect shopworkers, abuse is not a part of their job.
“We continue to call on retail employers to maintain appropriate safety measures, ensuring they are followed consistently in every store.
“Many shopworkers are at a greater risk of catching the virus, simply because of the number of people they interact with on every shift.
“Yet they have worked throughout the pandemic to keep our communities supplied with essentials. These key workers must be valued, respected and protected.”
The news comes after the retail trade union opposed the government’s decision to scrap all Covid rules in England a month early claiming it could “hit low-paid workers hard”
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