NI Chamber President Ian Henry commented:
“The government has taken massive steps to help so many businesses in recent days, something that has been welcomed throughout the business community in Northern Ireland.
“However I have personally heard from many sole traders and self-employed people, for whom last week’s measures offer little reassurance. Northern Ireland’s business base is largely made up sole traders/the self-employed, so it is now vital that Ministers now also ramp up support for these people, many of whom have seen their livelihoods vanish in the blink of an eye.
“Whilst we understand the complexity involved, self-employed people still need help similar in scale and scope to that put in place for those businesses with employees. We will work closely with government to find a way to deliver this support.”