Event Cinemas New Zealand plans to lay off staff and restructure its workforce in a bid to stay afloat following the lockdown the government introduced due to the coronavirus health crisis.

The company said it is currently entering into a consultation process with staff and the unions to reduce its workforce, in line with the current and future business requirements.   

The restructure follows a number of other initiatives that have been made right across the Event Hospitality and Entertainment group, owners of Event Cinemas New Zealand, to minimise the impact on people across the group.

“Unfortunately, like many other businesses, we are not exempt from the impact of this pandemic,” said Carmen Switzer, Event Cinemas NZ general manager. “We are committed to working openly and honestly with our people during this time, supporting them in the best way we can.”

Switzer said the efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus globally has impacted the planned release of new films and the measures put in place under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 restrict the number of customers able to access cinemas.

“The reality is in order to preserve as many jobs as we can in the long term and ensure we remain in a good position to get through this crisis we have made the difficult – but essential – decision to work with our teams to reduce our workforce,” she said.

“This will mean starting the process of redundancies and entering a consultation period with staff.”