Recently, the European Furniture Industries Confederation appealed to the institutions and state-members of the European Union to assist the industry in times of combating coronavirus and economic turmoil as a result of quarantine in most EU countries.

In particular, the organization said that the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak was the number one priority. Coordination at EU level to ensure the supply of protective and medical equipment across Europe should be at the highest level. However, according to European furniture manufacturers, it is now clear that the European economy is about to decline. Thus, the EU institutions and the state-members of the Union must take all necessary measures to mitigate its effects.

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Today, the European furniture industry employs more than 1 million employees and 120,000 enterprises of all kinds. With the onset of quarantine, many companies that have continued to operate have already experienced a shortage of components, as the European market is largely dependent on China. Closure of borders greatly contributes to the slowdown in production and sales. Furniture workers also note that the closure of factories has led to a breach of workers’ rights, which could lead to job losses in the future.

EFIC’s main proposals to the European institutions relate primarily to the following:

• secure the transportation of goods within the single market, thanks to the introduction of the Green Corridor at national borders in order to accelerate customs control
• facilitate the crossing of borders of workers and passengers, in order to be able to rebuild the industry and prevent the dismissal of workers
• ensure that companies have access to the necessary equipment for workers’ protection
• ensure that companies have access to liquidity support schemes to overcome the economic downturn. Adequate support measures should be put in place to compensate for the lack of economic activity and the protection of workers and businesses
• ensure that apprenticeships are supported via European funds as training is now suspended, which in the future may lead to a shortage of skilled workers
  

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As a separate item of requirements for institutions, furniture manufacturers have highlighted the resumption of the furniture trade in those countries where trading activities are blocked. According to EU colleagues, protection of staff and customers is paramount, but positive examples in the food and non-food trade for the population prove that, subject to strict rules of hygiene, business processes can and must not be stopped.

As you can see, Ukrainian furniture manufacturers are not alone in their difficulties – in the same situation there are colleagues from the European Union. Today, the lion’s share of developments both in the EU and in Ukraine will depend on senior management. Governments today have the overriding task of protecting the population from the spread of the virus on the one hand, and of ensuring the economic development, at least on the other hand, of preventing its significant decline.