Skills Shortages
Maccas looks overseas to recruit new staff
By Paul Maley
June 25, 2008 01:58am
- Australia is suffering a skills shortage
- Now fast food joints can't find workers
- McDonalds and KFC recruiting from overseas
AUSTRALIA'S skills crisis has reached alarming new levels with fast-food giants McDonald's and KFC forced to use the controversial 457 skilled visa program to recruit staff.
McDonald's Queensland regional manager Andrew Gregory said the company had been forced to look overseas for managers to staff the Mackay and Mount Isa outlets because of an inability to recruit locally.
"Our individual franchisees have made a decision to keep their businesses running and to provide a service," Mr Gregory said. "We'd prefer not to have to do it, but it's definitely the right decision from the individual franchisees' point of view."
The skills shortage was most acute in Queensland's mineral areas, Mr Gregor said.
It is understood KFC has also used the program to fill vacancies.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday that with the lowest unemployment rate in decades, the restaurants were not the only Queensland businesses finding it hard to get labour.
"There are some places where it's harder than others," Ms Bligh said. "Mackay is one of those towns that's going through rapid growth and we are seeing ... towns like Mackay where they're in competition with mining projects finding it hard sometimes to fill jobs.
"I know that there are people in other parts of Queensland who would welcome a chance to pick up a job like that, but I do think these are tough times for some of our employers."
The 457 temporary skilled visa program is the subject of a review by the Rudd Government, following allegations some employers had mistreated workers.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans has said Australia's skills crisis is rapidly turning into a labour crisis.
