Today, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport announced upcoming legislative changes aimed at simplifying and increasing the attractiveness of hiring employees in gastronomic services. The changes respond to the shortage of skilled workers and a
Today, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport announced upcoming legislative changes aimed at simplifying and increasing the attractiveness of hiring employees in gastronomic services. The changes respond to a shortage of skilled workers and administrative obstacles that prevent the rapid filling of jobs in this sector.
One of the main problems faced by entrepreneurs in gastronomy is the obligation to obtain certificates of professional competence for all employees, regardless of their position. This requirement often places a disproportionate burden not only on the workers themselves, but also on employers. As part of the upcoming changes, this obligation will be abolished if at least one qualified worker with the necessary experience and professional competence is present at the plant.
"We have listened to the problems that the gastronomic sector has and we have come up with a quick and effective solution. Our goal is to remove administrative obstacles and make it easier for entrepreneurs to hire new employees. Thanks to this change, it will be easier for people to find a job, and entrepreneurs will find employees," said Dušan Keketi, Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Practice shows that requiring people who are interested in performing auxiliary work to have a degree in a field or obtain a certificate, for which it is not uncommon to wait up to a quarter, is problematic and unnecessarily administratively demanding. The planned changes should significantly contribute to improving the situation and provide entrepreneurs with the necessary flexibility in filling vacancies.
"We believe that these measures will bring the expected effect and allow entrepreneurs to better prepare for seasonal fluctuations and changes in demand for services. At the end of 2023, there were more than 110,000 employees working in the hotel and gastronomy industry, but this is still less than before the pandemic. A survey among entrepreneurs has shown that there is currently a shortage of more than 10,000 workers in the gastronomic sector," added Marek Harbuľák, State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
Martin Novotný, General Manager of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Slovakia (AHRS), expressed his support for these measures and stressed that the simplification of legislation is key to stabilizing the entire sector. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to put these changes into practice as soon as possible so that entrepreneurs can take advantage of the new rules in a short time.
The solution is to transfer responsibility to the operator, who must have a HACCP plan in place for production operations. Among other things, this plan also designates responsible persons who can train new employees after the change, which will significantly increase the efficiency of employing unqualified persons and help fill vacancies.