Uniqlo closes Australian stores amid COVID-19 pandemic

Most of Uniqlo’s 1500 staff will be stood down, adding to more than 50,000 retail employees sent home in the last fortnight.

A Uniqlo employee wearing a face mask. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

Japanese department store Uniqlo has decided to close all its 22 stores in Australia, standing down the majority of its more than 1500 staff in Australia and adding to the woes within the retail sector in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an email to loyal shoppers this afternoon Uniqlo said it had decided to close all its stores in Australia from Thursday, with the decision adding to the more than 50,000 retail employees who have been sent home — many without pay — in the last fortnight as shops choose to close rather than stay open at a time when all governments are urging Australians to stay in their homes.

It follows similar decisions in recent days from Myer, sending home 10,000 staff, Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments closing its fashion stores to stand down 9000, Country Road Group which employs 5000 and tens of thousands more from chains such as Michael Hill, The Athlete’s Foot, Katies, Millers and Lovisa.

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“This is a challenging decision for any business to make and not one that we make lightly, but we believe it is the right thing to do for our community,’’ Uniqlo said in an email to customers.

“We will continue to work closely with our teams, the government and public health officials throughout the country on the best way to navigate the days and weeks ahead, and will share information with you as we move forward together.”