Dublin: Recent reports reveal that visa delays are causing a significant shortage of chefs in hotels and restaurants across the country. The current work permit and visa processing times are experiencing delays of up to five months, leading to uncertainty and operational challenges for establishments.
Numerous reports highlight that many restaurants and hotels are contemplating reducing their opening hours due to the unpredictable duration of visa processing. This issue is particularly affecting the recruitment of international talent, as skilled chefs intending to work in Ireland are being compelled to defer their plans or seek opportunities in other countries due to the prolonged delays.
Industry experts within the hotel sector suggest that a viable solution to the ongoing problem would involve the implementation of a system that concurrently issues work permits and visas. Despite the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment stating that permits are currently issued within 15 to 19 working days, hoteliers argue that this timeframe is not consistently achievable in practice. As a result, urgent measures are being urged to streamline and expedite the visa application process, ensuring a timely and efficient influx of skilled chefs into the workforce.
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