Called to serve, Irish told beware bogans in thongs
West Australian hotels are about to launch an aggressive recruiting drive for more than 2000 young Irish waiters, chefs, receptionists, managers and housekeeping attendants.
While unions push for stricter conditions on Enterprise Migration Agreements in the wake of redundancies across the resource sector, the Australian Hotels Association estimates there are up to 1500 unfilled positions for skilled hospitality workers on any given day in Western Australia.
The organisation claims that the number of workers needed is higher because turnover is fast and because several new hotels are planned or being built in Perth.
Representatives from the state branch will travel to Ireland with hoteliers next month to try to convince skilled Irish hospitality workers under the age of 30 to come to Perth or regional Western Australia.
They will target those considering a working holiday on the east coast of Australia.
The state branch of the Australian Hotels Association has discovered that, while 30,000 Irish backpackers travel to Australia on working holidays every year, only 7 per cent come to Western Australia.
The organisation's chief executive, Bradley Woods, hopes to double that percentage by presenting free seminars in Dublin on October 2 and 3 called Travel and Work Western Australia.
At the seminars, hoteliers will promote WA as "the most beautiful and dynamic state".
"People will get information on Western Australia, find out how much they will get paid, and meet pub and bar owners, hoteliers and managers from hospitality businesses," Mr Woods said.
A video featuring Irish workers already employed at West Australian pubs and hotels tells prospective overseas workers about the state's warm climate, something the AHA believes is the biggest drawcard for the Irish.
And a booklet for the young workers explains some basics, including that Western Australia is in the southern hemisphere.
It also explains some Australian slang, including that in Australia thongs are footwear, not underwear, and that the term "bogan" refers to a "a person who takes little pride in their appearance" and "spends his days slacking and drinking beer".
The push for Irish workers comes six months after Des Crowe, the chief executive of the national branch of the Australian Hotels Association, described labour shortages in hotels across many parts of the country as chronic.
Source: The Australian, 22 September 2012
