Coronavirus: 9000 jobs in limbo as Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Dotti close

A slew of Aussie stores – including Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Portmans and Dotti – have become the latest coronavirus retail victims.

Some of Australia’s best-known retail brands will close their doors due to the coronavirus crisis, leaving thousands of jobs in the lurch.

Today Premier Investments Limited – which owns the Just Group, whose brands include Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E and Dotti – became one of the latest companies to shut up shop due to the unprecedented outbreak.

The company has also shut down stores in New Zealand, the UK and the Republic of Ireland, which means 9000 global employees have now been stood down.

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In a note to investors, Premier said the company supported the federal and state governments’ request for Australians to isolate at home in a bid to control the spread of the illness.

“These extraordinary steps have been deemed necessary by governments to limit the spread and minimise the impact of the pandemic,” it said in a statement.

Peter Alexander is among the closures.

“Premier’s primary focus is the health and safety of its employees, its customers and the broader community.”

As a result, Premier confirmed all Australian stores would be closed from 6pm tonight until 9am on April 22.

“Regrettably, this means all employees in Australia are to be stood down, except for a small number of employees required to perform limited essential work. This means our team members will not attend work and will not be paid,” the statement reads.

“We have put in place special arrangements for employees to access accrued annual and long service leave entitlements to reduce the impact over this time.

Smiggle is just one of the Aussie stores that will close from 6pm. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Globally these closures will impact over 9,000 of our employees.”

Premier Retail CEO Mark McInnes voluntarily decided to work from home without pay or accessing any other entitlements for the period of the shutdown.

The entire Just Group executive team have also been stood down and have agreed to work from home when required with either no pay or reduced leave entitlements.

Non-executive directors have voluntarily decided to not receive any remuneration during this period.

The company also revealed it would not pay rent during this time.

“These extraordinary circumstances mean Premier intends not to pay any rent globally for the duration of the shutdown,” Premier said.

“This is the hardest decision ever made by Premier – our team are our family and we want to do everything we can to keep them employed, but we believe that it is necessary and the right decision for them, their families, our customers, and the country.”

Meanwhile, Accent group – which owns the popular Platypus, Hype and Athletes Foot shoe brands – will also close 522 stores for four weeks from Friday, affecting more than 5000 workers.

And from today, jewellery chain Lovisa is temporarily closing stores in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, joining outlets in France, Spain, Malaysia, the USA and UK which have all been closed over the course of the past week. Singapore is the only company owned market currently continuing to trade.

Virgin Australia has also announced they will suspend 8000 jobs and ground 90 per cent of their flights, while Tigerair will ground their entire fleet, while jewellery chain Michael Hill has closed 300 stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. michael hill site:news.com.au