“We expect the end result here is that while our members are able to remain open, the amount of incoming work will fall to a very low level,” said the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) after the announcement of stage four lockdown restrictions that will see thousands of Melbourne businesses shut down and an estimated 250,000 Victorians stood down from Thursday.
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| "We have to make this work": Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews |
“There is a lot of confusion around what is allowed and what is not allowed when it comes to staying open for business,” said an ‘ASGA members update’ from GM Michael Punch and Victorian chair Mick Harrold (MD Visual Exposure). “The full details will become apparent over the next day or two and we will continue to monitor them.
“For now, what is clear is that the Victorian Government wants to put significant restraints on businesses to reduce the number of people moving around the community. It is asking some businesses to close and many to operate on reduced capacity. What is frustrating is that many of our members will not fall into the categories that were discussed on the TV.
“At this point, we expect that most of our members will fall into a category that allows them to remain open but under a COVID Safe Plan. We do not have a copy of this document at this stage, but common sense dictates that it will put restrictions on limiting staff at a workplace, recording staff attendance and also increased PPE requirements.
“We expect the end result here is that while our members are able to remain open, the amount of incoming work will fall to a very low level. It will be through this passive regulation that the Government achieves low levels of staff at work. We wish everyone well and will keep you updated as we receive more information.”
Industry Group The Real Media Collective (TRMC) welcomed the news that printers with a COVID-safe plan will remain open during the Stage 4 lockdown.
“Following multiple submissions and engagement with the Premier’s Office and the Victorian Government COVID-19 Team, Printing and Support, Pulp, Paper and Converted paper product manufacturing are included under the ‘Open for on-site work’ industries during the Stage 4 Lockdown,” said TRMC CEO Kellie Northwood.
“There are some requirements heavily linked to number of staff within a premises and reduced interaction and mixing of staff, these are as follows:
- a 33 per cent reduction compared to peak capacity must be applied
- these requirements are State-wide - Regions included
- Staff are to be scheduled to work on a ‘Single site only’ – no site hopping.
“The Victorian Premier did announce there will be random on-site inspections to those businesses who are deemed ‘Open for on-site work’ to ensure compliance to the restrictions. If members have not as yet worked through the COVID-19 Safe Plan please do so,” Northwood said.
Download the Federal Covid Safety Plan here.
Full statement from the Premier here.
Download Stage Four Restrictions below.
Attachment-A-Stage-4-Industries-Distribution_FINAL (1) (1).pdf
ASGA UPDATE:
'Work will dry up very quickly': Do I Need to Shut Down?
ASGA has further updated members on Stage Four Covid-19 restrictions in Victoria and how they will affect business operations.
“It is an unfortunate reality for most businesses that your work will dry up very quickly. Within one week, you may find that you have little or no work regardless of your decision to keep operating.”
Read the story here.
