Garages, factors and suppliers can stay open, IAAF confirms

Government highlights importance of ongoing service, repair and MOTs of emergency vehicles and those of key workers

Garages, factors and suppliers can stay open, IAAF confirms
Wendy Williamson, IAAF chief executive.

Following the government’s new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has gained clarification from government that businesses in the automotive aftermarket supplying garages, namely motor factors and suppliers, can remain open.

The government announced the forced closure of all non-essential retail outlets, however garages are exempt from the closures but showrooms should be closed.

While the government, under new social distancing measures, is requiring people to stay at home, motor factors can stay open in order to supply workshops who continue to support logistics providers, local councils, blue light services and key workers, ensuring that the necessary parts, tools and information remain available to them.

Related: Garage owners left to weigh up pros and cons of staying open

The IAAF says individual businesses will have to make their own commercial decisions as to how they can respond to the new social distancing measures, but the government has clearly highlighted the importance of ongoing service, repair and MOTs of emergency vehicles and those of key workers and services.

Parts distributors that offer a trade counter service should adhere to the strict government social distancing measures implemented throughout all essential services, however retail counters should close.

“Important role”

Wendy Williamson, IAAF chief executive, said: “The government has clearly identified the important role the automotive aftermarket supply chain plays in people’s mobility.

“While motor factors, suppliers and garages can stay open, it is essential that businesses follow NHS and government guidelines to protect the health, safety and well-being of employees and customers.”

In recent days, IAAF has issued letters to a number of government departments, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, urging for more help for the entire automotive aftermarket supply chain.

For further information about the IAAF, select ‘more details’ below.

Home Page Forums Garages, factors and suppliers can stay open, IAAF confirms

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  • #193421 Reply

    Following the government’s new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has gained clarificat
    [See the full post at: Garages, factors and suppliers can stay open, IAAF confirms]

    #193504 Reply
    simon bailey
    Guest

    While the government, under new social distancing measures, is requiring people to stay at home, motor factors can stay open in order to supply workshops who continue to support logistics providers, local councils, blue light services and key workers, ensuring that the necessary parts, tools and information remain available to them.

    The key words are there but garages are using this an excuse to stay open because the majority of garages will not be working on the above vehicles.

    #193785 Reply
    simon bailey
    Guest

    Lets say ive been a bit negative over the last week or so with all this whats happening. Im a 45 year old mechanic/mot tester with a small family. I work for a local business which has several sites in the midlands area. I do a lot of diagnostic and repair work for the company. Anyway ive been in this trade for a while now and everytime there is something going either be it a public holiday like the queens jubilee or todays epidemic we as mechanics always seem to pull the short straw by employers. I love the work I do and have a passion for it that’s the only reason im still doing it. We are on very low wages compared to other trades and have to invest a lot of time and money into it. ie knowledge and tools etc, but employers are always allowed to take of advantage of this. now this situation has arisen and to this day im still working but not for long as I do not feel safe enough or paid enough to risk my own or my families lives, what I mean by this is. take an mot for example, the customer arrives into reception uses the social distancing rule and leaves the keys for the car. now I have to get said keys and get into the customers vehicle which I have no knowledge about, the customer could have been coughing sneezing etc in said vehicle and I wouldn’t know anything about. the advice for contactless paperwork for mot, where is the safety aspect of this for myself. I worked on a vehicle 2 days ago ive now been told the customers wife has covid-19 which has enraged me. im sorry but this job and the wage I receive is not worth the risk to myself or family. id like to get this out there as yes I can see garage owners are going through a tough time at the moment but not much is being done to ensure the safety of the guys on the workshop floor who actually make a lot these garage owners the money to keep them in business.

    #193994 Reply
    Deborah
    Guest

    I agree with Simon, my husband and I own an MoT station and we have furloughed our mechanic and closed for the time being. We simply cannot risk our little family being infected at work. As said by Simon, you have no idea what has happened in a customers vehicle, you cannot possibly clean and disinfect each one that comes through the door, so for ours, our mechanic and our customers safety we have shut up shop. There isn’t enough money in the world to make me put my family at risk. Garages should be closed and only those who have contracts for Emergency Services should be staying open. A lot of garages in my town are saying they’re staying open but they don’t have any work. All the more reason to close up till it’s clear.

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