Northern Ireland

Dozens of jobs at risk at Belfast council's gyms and leisure centres

Better Gym in Belfast
Better Gym in Belfast Better Gym in Belfast

DOZENS of jobs are believed to be at risk at Belfast City Council's gyms and leisure centres amid the Covid-19 crisis.

GLL, which operates the council's Better leisure facilities, has met with the council to discuss voluntary redundancies.

It is believed the social enterprise is seeking to cut around 40 jobs.

GLL said coronavirus restrictions have forced it to close services and operate at a reduced capacity.

People Before Profit councillor Matt Collins, who has spoken to affected staff, described the planned job cuts as "disgraceful".

The west Belfast councillor urged all parties on the city council to "get behind leisure workers and their trade unions to help secure jobs".

''To lay off 40 staff would be a concerning move in ordinary times but to do it at a time of huge economic uncertainty is disgraceful," he said.

Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools can remain open for individual training only under Stormont's current Covid-19 restrictions.

GLL operates 15 leisure facilities on behalf of Belfast council and employs 330 permanent staff in the city.

A spokeswoman said: "Following on from government announcements regarding the end of the Job Retention Scheme and further NI Executive restrictions on operating leisure services, GLL, last week, met with Belfast City Council to discuss proposals around voluntary redundancy.

"Unfortunately due to the impact of Covid-19 including enforced closure and the requirement to operate at reduced capacity in order to be Covid-secure, GLL will be restructuring its services in a number of localities beyond Belfast and some jobs will be at risk."