Reeling under the massive impact of the second wave of the pandemic, the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prioritise the vaccination of its frontline staff. It has also asked mall owners and landlords to waive the rentals and common area maintenance charges.

NRAI’s letter said that the majority of its workforce falls in the 18-45 year age group and runs significant exposure risks.

“Restaurants workers have been at the frontline through the pandemic,” the letter said. “The safety of workers will encourage confidence and lead to faster economic activity.” The industry provides direct employment to more than 7 million Indians, which is at risk due to the second wave, NRAI said.

The industry association, which represents more than half a million restaurants in India, has also written individually to mall owners and landlords seeking waivers until the time curbs continue for the dine-in business. It has also sought altered financial terms, such as pure revenue share and no minimum guaranteed rentals for six months. For stores with longer past occupancy record, this revenue share can alternatively be linked to their sale as a percentage to their past period sale.

“With high fixed overheads, restrictions on operating hours, revised social distancing norms and reduced capacity utilisation amid the second wave, decline in consumer sentiments is catastrophic for the sector. We have a grim battle at hand and the most potent way to fight this is to redefine mutual relationships and business models,” NRAI president Anurag Katriar said.