Nearly 57,000 retail workers on PUP as shops reopen

Topshop Topman on Cork's Opera Lane. Last night, the High Court here appointed provisional liquidators to four Irish operating companies that are part of Arcadia, including Topshop. Picture: Denis Minihane.

There were almost 56,900 people working in retail and wholesale needing the pandemic unemployment payment to make ends meet on the eve of the lifting of restrictions this week on retailers, new figures show. 

A large part of these workers will go back to work as the level 5 restrictions are lifted this week but there are fears that the shops in the once busy centres will be forced to shake out many jobs after the Christmas rush.