The Irish Hairdressers Federation is calling on the Finance Minister to brush aside plans for a VAT hike affecting the sector.
The Federation has described plans to increase the rate from 9 to 13.5% in March as an "unjust" and "nonsensical tax burden" on businesses that have suffered gravely during Covid.
The hairdressing sector is included in the same tax band as the hospitality sector and is set to see its VAT rate increase to 13.5% from 9% on 1st March along with restaurants and hotels.
The Federation claims that for hair salons in Ireland, this VAT rise will ruin them. They say hair salons have seen their costs rocket over the past year as they struggled to get back on their feet after Covid and say they have already seen many close after some saw their electricity costs double.
There are 25,000 people employed in the hairdressing sector In Ireland and the Federation says this move will put those jobs at risk.
