This morning (Wednesday 10/10/2018) on the RTE Radio show; Today with Sean O’Rourke, Wayne Partridge whom is a multi salon owner of Wayne Lloyd Hairdressing in Cork, on behalf of the Hairdressing Council of Ireland, directly asked the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D to engage with the industry to implement a National Strategy to Support hairdressing widely and to wipe out the black market.
Wayne put it to the Minister that this VAT increase will only serve to move people into a very active black economy. The government in Budget 2019 have announced an investment of €35 Million in targeted supports for the tourism sector. Therefore, the Hairdressing Council of Ireland (in a letter for the Minister sent this morning to the Today at Sean O’Rourke Show) called upon the government to engage with us to implement a National Strategy that supports the industry widely.
We are extremely concerned that this increase will have a grave effect on the industry. Any increase in the cost of a service will drive even more clients to seek out cheaper services in the black market, which are already in direct competition with salons nationally. It may also drive salons to work on the rent a chair model as currently as seen in the USA, thus feeding into the “gig economy” as described by the Minister.
The Minister acknowledged the issues that we are facing, in terms of the black market and noted that it is not in the state’s interest to have clients migrate into the black market as this will lead to a loss of revenue, therefore he will review possible options overs the coming weeks to support the industry.
The Hairdressing Council of Ireland have written to the Ministers office to set up a date for a meeting, however to make change we need your support. Please sign up to gain free membership so you can have your voice heard in the development of a national strategy to support hairdressing and wipe out the black market.
Listen in to the conversation at 28.20 minutes;
Membership can be completed for the Hairdressing Council of Ireland for Free
