THE decision on whether businesses should close at 1pm on Friday to allow employees to watch the world cup could be discussed with individual companies as a general closure would be impractical, says the Cape Chamber of Commerce.

“The situation varies from business to business and while some may be able to close others will find it impossible to do so,” said Mr Albert Schuitmaker, Director of the Chamber.

He was commenting on Cosatu’s call for the early closure of work places for the opening day of the World Cup.

“Many companies perform essential services and they have to keep going to provide the food and other services for our visitors. In fact, it is at a time like this that service industries face their toughest challenges and they are in no position to give staff off.”

He said many industries were not is a position to close as processing plants and machinery could not simply be switched off. Other industries were trying desperately to make up for time and production lost during the recent transport strike.

There were businesses however where it would be possible to close early and the Chamber believed that in these cases employers and employees could get together to consider various options.