COVID-19: Salon owners design SOPs for employees, clients
Jul 18, 2020
'In terms of revenue salons contribute sh25b to 30b annually.'
HEALTH | BUSINESSS | COVID-19
Salon owners have drafted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including the training of their employees and clients on COVID-19 safety techniques.
Others include compulsory registration of clients and their phone numbers to enable them trace potentially COVID-19 contact of contacts.
Enforcing mandatory face masks for employees and customers, distancing of seats to two meters apart by sealing off of some workstations.
Providing digital thermometers at salon entrances to detect staff and customers' temperature among others.
Through the association of Salon owners, they committed to share the SOPs with their follow colleagues for easy enforcement and follow-ups.
Speaking while petitioning the President of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), the secretary general of Association of Salon owners David Emitu clarified that salon industry is not small as people may think adding they employ about 1.5m people.
"Our employees earn commission and they have not been working for four months. You are just going to see cases of destitution rising," he revealed.
He said in terms of revenue salons contribute sh25b to 30b annually.
Jackline Busingye the owner of salon Ambiance said they are ready to open and operate and added that they are even prepared to have Ministry of health inspect their facilities.
Olive Kigongo the president of UNCCI, said that the salons should also be given a window to operate as long as they can follow the health ministry regulations.
"Salons are easier to control, they can take in few people at a time. I strongly believe that if they work with the health ministry, they can actually do their business and also be mindful of people's health. For example clients can come in on appointments," Kigongo reiterated.
The operations manager Sparkles salon Lisa Murungi expressed a concern that most of their products are expiring and none of their staff is earning any income because they are currently not working.
She also noted that some people are going to people's houses to do salon services which she said that it is more dangerous because they don't have access to sterilizing and temperature machines.