Why Croatia lacks in workforce: Three reasons why no one wants to work during a season

Tourism revenues in Croatia each year reach record highs and have risen to 8 billion and 700 million euros in 2017, but they still have problems with the lack of workforce.

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- This year we got a quota of 4,660 workers. So far, 10 percent of the quota has been used. We have the biggest deficit in the auxiliary occupations and we have a lack of chefs - Iva Bahunek said, director of the Association of Employers in Hotel Industry of Croatia. 

This year, just like the years before, the most foreign workers will arrive from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia. And that is despite the 174 thousand of unemployed Croats. It doesn't pay off, many think, Dnevnik.hr reports.

- I do not think it's cost-effective to work as a season worker in the long run. It's better to have a steady job - Sara said, and Leo agrees with her.

- The wage is too small, you work too much, and the question remains if the people are paid the right among of money they agreed on, so it is no wonder they can't find workers, that is the reality - he said.

Foto-ilustracija: Profimedia/Alamy

The association Gastronomadi (Gastro Nomads), which through the portal Gastroposao mediates in employment in the hospitality industry, claims that advertised conditions are often not the same as the real conditions.

- There was a story of a man today who is going to work on an island. He was promised a wage of 1.880 euros, work hours from 6 PM to midnight, he has a great accommodation. I know that it won't be like that. I've heard 1001 stories like that in the last 10 years since we are doing this and it's never like that - Robert Ripli said, the president of the association Gastronomadi.

The association claims that, on the other hand, those are isolated cases. Hoteliers cannot afford it such a bad advertisement in this digital age, they say. 

- They absolutely can't allow it, they can't say lies, that is why people will never again work for them, and we in Croatia are not in a position where we can lose workers - Iva Bahunek explains.

That is why great hotel chains are providing much better working conditions to workers.

Foto: Wikipedia/Richard Huber/Tanjug/Zoran Žestić/YouTube/DocsOnline

- The Croatian government enabled that VAT we pay for accommodation, food, and drinks that we spend on workers, is no longer necessary, we don't have to pay for it, so that money can be used to increase salaries to our workers - she said.

The company that hires more than 6.600 workers, Valamar Riviera, said that they increased the wages that are between 675 and 945 euros. Also, they have a reward program and they offer possibilities to advance.

Plava Laguna, which hires three thousand workers, announced that they will increase the base salary from four to 10 percent from July first, they give regress 10 euros per day of vacation, single payments up to 70 euros for Jun, Jully, and Christmass. 

Foto: Freeimages.com/kipcurr

HOTELIERS WILL TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES 

Due to the lack of workforce, Bjelovar hoteliers could cut down on their offers to their guests, Dnevnik.hr reports.

- That will be Monday or Tuesday probably. Due to the lack of workforce. You can't find a good chef, good waiter, everybody that was good and you could trust them have left - Milko Muhoci from the association of peasants Bjelovar.

Other hoteliers had similar thoughts. Students that are graduating schools are already going to the large tourist summer resorts at the beginning of a season. 

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(Telegraf.co.uk)