Poor response to vacancies in hospitality sector

An initiative by the Employment and Training Corporation to lure job-seekers to the hospitality industry yesterday managed to attract a mere 57 persons for an open day at the job centre, in Valletta.

The ETC decided to hold the open day in view of an upsurge in the number of vacancies in the hospitality industry.

The ETC expressed utter disappointment at the turnout, saying that 200 registered unemployed were informed of the initiative through a letter and the corporation even went national, with radio adverts about the vacancies.

It pointed out the confusing "contrast" between the number of job vacancies and the lack of interest in the hospitality trade.

There are currently vacancies for 48 waiters and waitresses; four chefs; 12 cooks; three housemen, or housemaids; eight bartenders; 31 room attendants and five cleaners.

The surge is over and above the seasonal increases that are normally experienced in the hospitality trade.

The number of vacancies in most sectors rose substantially just after the election in April - another determining factor, the ETC said. The figures were considered to be relatively high and it was unlikely that every vacancy would be filled, it said.

The lack of room attendants, for example, was a "chronic" problem. Last year, the corporation had offered Lm100 to those who took on the job if they kept it for six months, but the shortage was not solved.

The idea of the open day was to help employers, who could interview candidates at the job centre. However, despite their complaints about the shortages, only one restaurant owner showed up out of the four who had confirmed their attendance.

Another two employers had shown interest but had not confirmed their attendance, the ETC said.

The ETC said it would now be targeting those who have shown an interest in the jobs available.

To help the hospitality sector, the ETC is also sending 15 of its registered unemployed clients to Ireland for training as waiters and room attendants in a venture sponsored by the EU Leonardo da Vinci programme.

The ETC is now seeking the assistance of employers in the industry to ensure that the candidates would be attached to an employer.

About a month ago, the ETC had also organised a similar open day for vacancies in the woodwork industry, but only three carpenters were found despite the fact that they were being offered Lm100 a week.