Radical changes to chef work permits

FÁILTE Ireland has welcomed measures announced by the Minister for Business Heather Humphreys to increase the number of employment permits granted to overseas chefs coming to work in Ireland.

Commis chefs with two years’ experience can now apply for an employment permit.

Until now, this grade of chef was ineligible for a permit. The Minister has also announced that the number of chefs – of all grades – to be granted a permit will no longer be subject to a quota. Previously there was a cap of 610 permits.

Minister Humphreys also announced that the current cap of two chef employment permits per establishment is no longer applicable.

Fáilte Ireland said these measures will significantly help to alleviate the skills shortage currently being experienced in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The National Tourism Development Authority had previously described the current shortage of skills across the tourism industry as ‘one of the key and immediate challenges facing the sector’.

“Tourism is now one of Ireland’s biggest employers and in order to ensure the sector can continue to grow and make vital economic contributions to Ireland, it is critical that the skills shortage is recognised and addressed as one of the most complex challenges facing the industry,” said Jenny De Saulles of Fáilte Ireland.

“There is of course no silver bullet to address this skills gap. We are working with stakeholders in the tourism and education sectors on a range of initiatives to drive long-term employment in the industry including National Chef Apprenticeship programme, which will produce the next generation of great chefs,” she added.