Staff shortages in hospitality

WELLINGTON: The Restaurant Association of New Zealand says the sector is in peril and the Government’s visa extension does not go far enough.

Ten thousand foreigners’ working holiday and seasonal employment visas have been extended.

The latter are now allowed to get jobs in any industry.

Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said most of its temporary visa holders were on essential skills work visas and there was still no plan to extend these.

The sector’s pleas to the Government were falling on deaf ears and it needed immediate help to ensure its survival, she said.

‘‘With the Government’s recent immigration reset announcement, there is palpable fear that their approach to ideologicalbased policy could see our industry scythed once again: but this time it will be governmentinduced.

‘‘We were experiencing a skills shortage prior to border closures, but the sector is in the midst of a skills shortage at levels never seen before. Ninetytwo percent of our members say it is difficult to recruit for mid to senior skilllevel positions.

‘‘Under normal circumstances approximately 30% of our industry is made up of those on temporary work visas and in some cases that figure is closer to 60%.’’

The association wanted the Government to pause the planned increase to hourly wage thresholds when applying for an essential skills visa; extend the visas of all employerassisted work visa holders; allow border exceptions for critical hospitality workers; and extend the hours those on student visas were allowed to work. — RNZ