GYM owners predict a mass closure of their businesses due to pending rents, staff salaries and other fixed operational costs.
Many are genuinely concerned about bankruptcy and eviction orders with some already facing court cases filed by landlords over unpaid rent.
“We are all having a tough time paying our fixed costs such as utility bills, staff salaries, monthly rent and other fees during this period,” said Flex Gym owner Saleh Al Ammar.
“How can gyms survive under the present scenario without financial assistance to sustain our operations?”
Indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports halls were first directed to be closed for two weeks until Saturday and the ruling has been extended to March 14.
It was part of concerted efforts to control the spike in Covid-19 cases with a rampant variant spreading at a faster rate among young people.
The latest crackdown has left many gym owners devastated and pleading for help, urging landlords to be more flexible over rental demands.
“Some have threatened legal action or asked gym owners to evict their property,” Mr Al Ammar added.
Outdoor activities in private facilities have been limited to 30 people.
The entrepreneur said he had moved his gym equipment outside to ensure he could struggle on offering a limited service to users. He said that many of his fellow gym owners were not so lucky and a solution should be found.
“We could, for example, follow new strict guidelines to ensure there is business continuity similar to guidelines announced by Dubai last month for fitness centres, gyms and trainers,” he suggested.
“For example, gyms could allow only 50 per cent capacity, or less, depending on the size of the outlet, increase distance between equipment and follow other strict Covid-19 protocols.”
Gym owners have contacted the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a last ditch attempt to work out a solution.
Mr Al Ammar features in a campaigning video alongside other gym owners, circulating on social media, in a bid to make the authorities and the general public aware of their plight.
Bahraini Adel Al Murbati said he had operated three gyms before the pandemic struck, but had been forced to close two of them, in Hamala and Riffa.
“Many gym owners will be out of business by the time restrictions are finally lifted next month,” warned Mr Al Murbati.
“Landlords simply have to adjust their rents during this period of closure.”
Gyms and fitness studios were initially shut down in March last year as part of a wide range of measures to combat the spread of Covid-19.
They reopened in August under strict guidelines before the latest spike in cases.
Life-Fit Fitness Centre managing director Sarah Al Hamad said during the first closure of gyms last year, all companies received three months’ salaries for their staff.
“For the closed gyms, we received BD500 in total to cover the salaries of six staff, pay rent, our Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) contribution, municipality fees and other fixed costs,” said Ms Al Hamad.
“It is close to a year now that the owners have not taken a salary from their business.”
She believes small and medium enterprises were on the verge of shutting down for good.
“We thank the Crown Prince Prime Minister for his efforts with Tamkeen assistance to help businesses last year, but during this period small businesses were in a severely weakened state with debts that they will never be able to repay,” she added.
Classic Gym owner Abdulmohsin Radhi said they were still suffering from the previous closure last year, and faced a tough time to pay staff salaries.
“Due to the previous closure we had to move from Tubli to a new location with a reduced rent,” added Mr Radhi.
The GDN previously reported that a survey conducted by Malaeb, a Bahrain-based football community application, said the private sport industry was on the brink of collapse due to Covid-19.
Responses from the sport and recreation industry showed that 85 per cent of sport facilities, including gyms, found government subsidies insufficient to help them tide over the crisis.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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