An additional 10,000 work permits are to be granted from this month to allow foreign workers to take on low-skilled hospitality jobs.
The Government scheme, which runs from now until May 2004, favours workers from EU accession countries such as Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary and Slovakia, and will grant employers permits once they have proved they cannot fill the vacancy within the UK.
"These people will be coming here anyway, as the countries are joining the EU in a few years, so we might as well make best use of them," a Home Office spokeswoman said. "It makes financial sense."
The scheme is targeted at low-level jobs such as chefs qualified below NVQ level three, receptionists and porters. To qualify for work permits, which cost £70, employers need to prove that they have advertised jobs at JobCentres for 28 days.
The British Hospitality Association has welcomed the move, and has been advising its members to begin advertising their jobs immediately if they wish to take advantage of the scheme.
Recruitment consultants believe there will be no shortage of staff willing to fill the posts.
Ali Pardhan, managing director of Romania-based recruitment consultancy Knightsbridge International, said that the lure of higher salaries would be a huge incentive to staff.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 1 - 7 May 2003