After lifting the pandemic restrictions, the issue of labor shortage in the hotel industry has come to the forefront. The Ministry of Labor has initiated a post-pandemic program to address the labor shortage and promote employment.
The first phase targets the accommodation and catering industries, offering a monthly subsidy of up to 13,000 NTD to incentivize unemployed workers to join the industries facing labor shortages.
With the summer travel peak approaching, the Ministry of Labor organized an explanatory meeting today in Kenting, a thriving area for the accommodation industry.
However, hotel personnel managers privately express their frustration that it remains difficult to recruit workers even with higher starting salaries for entry-level positions, especially in remote areas like the Hengchun Peninsula, where salary incentives are lower than in metropolitan areas. They suggest limited and temporary openings for foreign migrant workers.
Hotel managers in Kenting suggest limited and temporary opening for foreign migrant workers.
The Director of the Kaohsiung-Pingtung-Penghu Regional Office of the Ministry of Labor, Ke Xiuyan柯秀燕, stated that the post-epidemic program aims to improve labor shortages and promote employment. It assists workers through the “Incentives for Worker Employment” and encourages employers to hire through the “Encouragement for Employer Recruitment” initiatives.
When an industry has a labor demand, they should first contact the competent central government agency to evaluate and confirm the job vacancy scope and reasonable salary.
The initial phase focuses on the hospitality industry, specifically room attendants and cleaning staff, with a required salary of NT$28,000 in Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and Penghu areas.
Hospitality employers with labor demands can provide job vacancy information to the Tourism Bureau, which will be registered on the Taiwan Jobs website or public employment service agencies for talent referral.”
She said that in the “Incentives for Worker Employment” section, eligible job seekers who public employment service agencies refer for project-based vacancies will receive a monthly incentive of NT$6,000 after stable employment.
Elderly individuals and specific target groups will receive NT$10,000 per month, with a maximum of 12 months. An additional subsidy of NT$3,000 will be provided for remote areas.
Individuals participating in pre-employment training programs for related professions will receive a one-time training incentive of NT$5,000 per trainee upon completion or NT$8,000 for remote areas.
In the “Encouragement for Employer Recruitment” section, if employers provide training for newly hired employees, they will receive a self-training instruction fee subsidy of NT$12,000 per person per month, for a maximum of three months. An additional subsidy of NT$3,000 will be provided for remote areas.
“Times have changed. Young people prefer working as delivery drivers; few want to work in hotel entry-level positions!” said a human resources manager from a 5-star-rated hotel in Kenting.
Hotel jobs are categorized as low-paying jobs. The starting salary for room attendants, cleaning staff, restaurant servers, and repair technicians is NT$30,000, while positions such as planners, receptionists, telephone operators, and cooks start at NT$27,000. This represents an increase compared to previous years. However, frontline room attendants and cleaning staff have consistently faced labor shortages. In addition to accommodating overtime within reasonable limits, temporary workers are also hired. With the upcoming peak season of summer vacations, the workforce remains difficult to replenish, causing a headache for the human resources manager.
Hotel jobs are categorized as low-paying jobs. The starting salary for room attendants, cleaning staff, restaurant servers, and repair technicians is NT$30,000, while positions such as planners, receptionists, telephone operators, and cooks start at NT$27,000.
Liao, the human resources manager, stated that while businesses have increased the salary levels for entry-level employees and the Ministry of Labor has provided additional subsidies to both employers and workers, he has observed that it is not solely a salary issue.
Some entry-level room attendants, with overtime pay included, can earn up to NT$50,000 per month, which is not a low income. However, some young employees leave their positions after only six months to work as delivery drivers.
This is because delivery jobs offer flexible working hours. Although there are vocational education programs in collaboration with high schools and universities, most students rarely seek permanent employment because they dislike being supervised and restricted.
Liao suggested opening up to foreign labor and observing the effects, without assuming from the start that it would take away job opportunities from local workers.