Catering establishments and hotels cannot find the staff they are looking for
employment
07 Jun 2022
/ 18:14
CORFU. 15% shortage of staff in hotels – Job vacancies in provision of services and catering sector.
Dozens of businesses in Corfu, both catering establishments and hotels, cannot find the staff they are looking for, while tourists are already arriving. A good tourist year is about to begin, but it is currently accompanied by the major problem of staff shortages in the provision of services.
Job candidates are showing little interest, while there has been lack of response to job advertisements for months. There are major shortages in people working in service, dish washing and the buffet, as well as in cooks, assistant cooks, housekeeping and cleaners, thus creating a serious problem in shops and catering businesses, cafes, bars and hotels.
According to the President of Corfu Hotel Employees Union Stamatis Pelais, although at the moment almost all 1,800 hotel employees who had filed a request through the Union have been re-employed, there is a serious shortage of staff in the catering sector.
Since winter
The Corfu Catering Union President Vassilis Vassilakis is also confirming this. "We do not have employees. We have been looking for staff since winter and we cannot find any. Both the government's benefit policy and the Airbnbs have contributed to this. If this season has the arrivals that both tour operators and the Ministry of Tourism are claiming, there will be a significant problem in the provision of services.
At the moment we can barely service people, while after 15 June, where there will be even more arrivals, we will have a big problem," said Mr. Vassilakis adding that he is looking for three people to work in service and he cannot find any.
15% shortage in hotels
And while the tourist season begins, Corfu Hoteliers' Association President Spyros Rokkas told Enimerosi that the shortage of staff in hotels at the moment is at least 15%. “The big problem is in the provision of services. We cannot find cooks, housekeeping and specialised staff that we need for bars and restaurants and, thus, for the latter we are hiring people without experience,” said Mr. Rokkas.
However, both catering establishment and hotel owners argue that the majority of employers keep their promises in terms of wages, working conditions and working hours. But they also appear cautious as in all professions there are good and bad employers, as well as good and bad employees.
Job candidates are showing little interest, while there has been lack of response to job advertisements for months. There are major shortages in people working in service, dish washing and the buffet, as well as in cooks, assistant cooks, housekeeping and cleaners, thus creating a serious problem in shops and catering businesses, cafes, bars and hotels.
According to the President of Corfu Hotel Employees Union Stamatis Pelais, although at the moment almost all 1,800 hotel employees who had filed a request through the Union have been re-employed, there is a serious shortage of staff in the catering sector.
Since winter
The Corfu Catering Union President Vassilis Vassilakis is also confirming this. "We do not have employees. We have been looking for staff since winter and we cannot find any. Both the government's benefit policy and the Airbnbs have contributed to this. If this season has the arrivals that both tour operators and the Ministry of Tourism are claiming, there will be a significant problem in the provision of services.
At the moment we can barely service people, while after 15 June, where there will be even more arrivals, we will have a big problem," said Mr. Vassilakis adding that he is looking for three people to work in service and he cannot find any.
15% shortage in hotels
And while the tourist season begins, Corfu Hoteliers' Association President Spyros Rokkas told Enimerosi that the shortage of staff in hotels at the moment is at least 15%. “The big problem is in the provision of services. We cannot find cooks, housekeeping and specialised staff that we need for bars and restaurants and, thus, for the latter we are hiring people without experience,” said Mr. Rokkas.
However, both catering establishment and hotel owners argue that the majority of employers keep their promises in terms of wages, working conditions and working hours. But they also appear cautious as in all professions there are good and bad employers, as well as good and bad employees.
