An independent group of restaurant and café owners have organised a demonstration, taking place at 4pm on Friday 2 April at the Place d'Armes in Luxembourg City. The "sit-in" protest will seek to raise awareness of their situation, as organisers say they have been disproportionally targeted in comparison to schools and sports clubs. Their demands include a reopening of the sector, as well as extended financial support as establishments seek to get back off the ground.
Clément Elie, a cafetier in Diekirch, is spearheading the demonstration. He told RTL that he appreciated that support for uncovered costs was increased to 100% in February; however, he pointed out that this aid came only a month after the closures. Elie added that a number of businesses were yet to receive any financial compensation.
Elie admitted that the current health situation and the measures underway abroad do not really justify a complete reopening - however, he questioned why rapid tests have not been made available to the sector, as they have been rolled out for sporting events and in schools.
The reopening measures announced by the government last week, which will allow terraces to accommodate tables of 2 customers between 6am and 6pm, are not favourable to proprietors, argued Elie. He said the measures were not profitable, and furthermore were wholly dependent on the weather conditions.
Finally, Elie expressed his disappointment with the Horesca federation, which he said had claimed to represent the sector without discussing conditions with proprietors.
