AHA WELCOMES RE-APPOINTMENT OF CHEFS TO SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST

The Australian Hotels Association (WA) has today welcomed the Commonwealth Government re-appointment of chefs to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Skilled Occupation List.

AHA(WA) CEO, Bradley Woods, said “there has been a national shortage of qualified chefs throughout the Australian Hotel and Hospitality Industry since they were removed from the Skilled Occupation List by Labor four years ago.

“The WA hospitality industry has been in desperate need of semi-skilled labour after losing many cooks and chefs to the mining sector as the salary expectations of workers increased.

“The AHA has advocated a return of chefs to the Skilled Occupation List but with greater checks and balances to ensure demonstrated competencies and qualifications are met”.

“We know that there are skilled people who are willing to come and work in the industry where they are needed, the government has acknowledged this and amended the list accordingly.

“This positive announcement will provide relief particularly for high labour market demand tourism destinations like Western Australia.

“The Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, has been instrumental in this process and has consulted with industry to understand the needs of Western Australia’s Tourism and Hospitality Businesses.

“The AHA(WA) and industry will continue to address the shortage of young people taking up training and apprenticeships in the hospitality sector,” Mr Woods concluded.