1000 more teenagers to spend school holidays building hospitality skills

Staff-starved hospitality businesses will attempt to lure workers by fast-tracking the minimum wage increase and entice teenage employees this school holidays under a new government scheme.

Staff-starved hospitality businesses will attempt to lure workers by fast-tracking the Fair Work Commission’s minimum wage increase and entice teenage employees this school holidays under a new state government scheme.

The sector was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic because of its reliance on foreign workers and has been under intense pressure from a lack of staff since October when lockdown restrictions were first eased.

While foreign workers are slowly returning to Australia, hospitality groups believe the increased minimum wage will help them lure and keep staff.

The hourly rate lifts from $20.33 to $21.38, more than $40 a week, from October for the aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors.

But hospitality giant Solotel, who pays the minimum wage to entry level staff at venues like the Kings Cross Hotel, Albion Parramatta and Matt Moran’s restaurants Aria and Chiswick, passed on the rise on Monday.

Solotel employees Katharine Crowe-Mai (Aria assistant manager), Matthieu Bedard (Opera Bar Bartender), Trisan Jaya (Aria chef de partie), Cliff Cusack (Opera Bar manager), Phoebe Barter (Barangaroo House General Manager) and Chloe Gjedsted (Marketing Executive at The Bank). Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“This helps with retention of the team and provides more bargaining power when hiring. Cost of living has gone up and so great pay and great hours definitely help with that,” said Phoebe Barter, the general manager of Solotel’s Barangaroo House.

Endeavour Group, which owns ALH Hotels like The Kirribilli and Crows Nest Hotel, will also change the pay for all employees on the hospitality award this month.

Mya Khawam at Evolve cafe, in Wahroonga. She is an 18 year old cafe manager who started working there at 15 and now manages it from Tuesday until Saturday. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Meanwhile, the state government is offering 1000 free training places for students aged 16 and older in the holiday period.

“We want to provide more opportunities for young people to get the skills they need for a first job, a new job or a better job, and this program is another great example of that,” Skills Minister Alister Henskens said.

Courses include Statement of Attainment in Hospitality Skills, in Espresso Coffee, and Food Safety Supervisor.

Mya Khawam, 18, manages her family-owned cafe in Wahroonga after working there since she was 15.

“It’s good to communicate with customers and it develops my ability to speak with people in general. It also took my mind off school,” she said.

“I 100 per cent want to stay in hospitality. There are lots of opportunities there.”