AMMAN — Despite rising foodstuff prices globally, a margin of profit was recorded in
highly-frequently restaurants locally,
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply
Youssef Al-Shamali said, according to Al-Mamlaka TV.
اضافة اعلان
Shamali’s
comment was in response to calls by the
Association for Restaurants and Sweet Shop Owners to increase menu prices locally by 10 percent.
In response,
Shamali said the ministry will review restaurant menus, provided that
restaurant owners present documents confirming that losses had indeed been
inflicted.
He explained that
once “evidence” is established that a restaurant is losing, the ministry will
present the matter to the Cabinet for discussion.
Shamali said the
ministry met with the association less than two months ago and reviewed menu
prices. “We found that there’s a profit margin made by these restaurants,
despite an increase in international prices,” according to Shamali.
During the
meeting, the association asked to double the meals and add more items to menus,
which, according to Shamali, were approved and implemented.
Omar Awwad,
president of the Association for restaurants and Sweet Shop Owners, said that
most frequented restaurants suffer losses due to the hike in international
prices.
He explained
that around 300 restaurants closed down in February, noting that he requested
the government again to increase menu prices by 5 to 10 percent.
Awwad warned
that restaurant owners might reduce their expenses in order to maintain the
work flow, and that would only happen by firing employees or cutting down their
salaries.
He also warned
that small restaurants might shut down due to the lack of price control,
contending that people’s weak purchasing power is affecting the restaurant
sector, which dropped by 50 to 60 percent since the onset of the
COVID-19
pandemic.
Awwad contended
that the prices of certain items have increased, such as oil, chicken and
legumes of various kinds, ultimately affecting restaurant business.
He said the association
is contemplating escalation, including having workers take part-time shifts,
firing foreign workers, and possibly staging a strike in light of the
government’s lack of response to its demands.
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