Chefs will now have to pass trade tests too

Chefs are now officially recognised as artisans and have to undergo a trading test prior to being awarded their accredited certification.

This was said by Cathsseta quality assurance head Dimpho Phungwayo, who was speaking at a workshop held in East London on Tuesday.

Phungwayo said although they had struggled to package the course for accreditation, they had piloted a programme and trade test late in 2019, which would see the first group of about 12 chefs graduate from the trade test by the end of the month.

“The trade test was designed last year in October and allows for chefs to prepare a variety of meals over a three-day period, whereby their quality and standards are obviously tested,” she said.

Phungwayo emphasised the importance of registering chefs on their system as many service providers or work hosts had given aspiring chefs training, but thousands were not registered.

“All training providers need to be registered and need to also register their trainees, who need to be recognised as artisans and undergo the trade test,” she said.

Head chef and deli manager at Vincent SUPERSPAR Thandokazi Peter said she was not sure what the new announcement really meant.

“When I graduated from a one-year course from Alfresco International Food and Wine Academy in 2015, we were required to do two weeks in service training, which I did at Pine Creek before I could be accredited, so I don’t know how different the new rule is and what it means for those of us who were accredited before the new rule of the trade test.”

A co-owner at Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde and Canon Restaurant, Sandiswa Nyathi, said she welcomed the trade test for chefs.

“Although this is very different from when we were accredited during my days as a graduate, I can only hope that it means that chefs will now be paid better salaries as a result of this recognition of them being classified as artisans,” she said.

Blue Ribbon Cooking School culinary lecturer Donna Peenz said she had not heard of the new trade test.

“It’s actually a great thing to have trade tests for accredited chefs. There will be many benefits through this but, as an employer, regardless of what certification an employee may have, you would still conduct your own practical interview.

“However, the trade test may be best for employment to make sure you get the right person for the job,” she said.

training providers need to be registered and need to also register their trainees