Some Illawarra businesses won't be opening their doors in a fortnight's time.
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From October 11, pubs, cinemas, restaurants and other venues will be able to open their doors to serve vaccinated customers, with those not yet vaccinated having to wait until December 1.
Read more: Illawarra businesses get ready to re-open
The re-opening comes with limitations, like the one person per 4sqm rule. That rule, said Illawarra Business Chamber Executive Officer Adam Zarth, will mean some venues won't find it financially viable to open early.
"For business it throws up a challenge," Mr Zarth said.
"A lot of the restrictions will be too onerous for some businesses to re-open. They've got a whole range of other problems from being able to re-engage with their staff, re-opening premises that have been shut down for about 100 days and being able to ensure they'll be able to turn a profit to pay their expenses and pay their staff."
Mr Zarth said the chamber would be encouraging people to support local businesses that do open - though he doubted customers would need any encouragement.
One point of concern for businesses is the need to check customers' vaccination status and, if necessary, refuse them access.
"We have raised it with the government and the response very clearly has come back that people who are out there unwilling to show a double vaccination status on the app, or are unvaccinated, will be in breach of the public health order until December 1, so that's a matter for police," Mr Zarth said.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris flagged a long-range issue of workers who test positive to COVID having to use annual leave to self-isolate.
"We do not want to see workers having to pay and wear the brunt of the costs of COVID measures on their own," Mr Rorris said.
"You won't end up with any leave at all if you're forced to pay for your own isolation."
He said that could lead to workers choosing not to get tested for fear of losing their employment or having to use up annual leave while self-isolating - risking a further spread of the virus.
"There needs to be a universal federally funded scheme that allows workers who have been required to isolate to be able to do so while receiving weekly payments," he said.
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