Almost 300 SVP staff laid off as shops remain closed due to Covid-19 restrictions

SVP national president Rose McGowan: 'Introducing temporary lay-offs has been an extremely difficult decision.' Picture: Fennell 

Almost 300 staff at the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) have been temporarily laid off in what the charity said is "not a cost-saving measure" but a result of continued level 5 restrictions, which have left its network of charity shops shuttered.

Some 277 shop staff from all over the country are affected, as are a further 10 who work in specialist and support services.