The services sector has strong backward and forward linkages with other sectors of the economy and contributes significantly to cross-border trade. Thus, the negative impact was so pronounced that overall performance of the services sector during 2020 remained dismal. Unfortunately, there is no accurate data available for the unprecedented mass layoffs and furloughs as one of the biggest challenges is statistics of the services sector which are difficult to assess. However, the overall negative growth of the sector overshadowed the positive momentum caused by the boom in delivery services. The APRA convener lamented that unfortunately where food delivery apps enhanced the reach of restaurants, these aggregators - the food delivery apps - also exploited the positive momentum and caused disruption within the working process of many restaurants.

Source: The Express Tribune December 30, 2020 03:11 UTC