WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) finds it unfair that a large company like Sandals is being favored by the government. The restaurant sector advocacy group is shocked that a commercial company was given a platform during the government press conference for its recruitment.
“The company is privileged because of this by the government, while this is not possible for smaller companies or even the CRA,” the association said in a press release.
CRA has been trying for more than seven months to get in touch with Minister Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) to address the major labor shortage in the hospitality industry.
Between 2021 and 2023, a minimum of 4000 workers are needed in the hospitality sector. This is because of the hotels that are scheduled to open in 2022 and 2023. In addition to Sandals, the opening of Courtyard Marriott, Hotel Otrobanda and the expansion of Corendon are also planned.
The restaurant sector has been facing a labor shortage for months. There are over 300 open positions in this sector alone. According to CRA, the government has not done anything about this to date.
Finding trained employees is a major problem and a daily challenge in the restaurant industry. CRA would therefore like to speak with the minister about the alignment of education with the needs of the labor market, the retraining of personnel and the opening of vocational schools.
“In addition, the government will have to come up with more flexibility with regard to the import of labor, which is of course aimed at the hospitality market.”
A job fair will soon be organized in collaboration with the Horecaf trade union. CRA indicated that they are also working hard to provide catering training courses to job seekers in the short term.