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Hospitality businesses across Victoria suffer losses from worsening post-pandemic staff shortages

More hospitality businesses across Victoria are today reporting losses due to the worsening post-pandemic staffing shortages in the industry.

By news@gippsland - 12th November 2021 - Back to News

Pubs, cafes and bakeries in Bendigo have had to cut back their opening hours because they can't find enough workers. It follows similar reports from well-known Melbourne eateries Ladro and Entrecote. Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Steph Ryan said it reinforced the need for incentives to attract Victorians into hospitality and accommodation.

The past 18 months have been tough for the hospitality industry who have suffered through extended lockdowns and restrictions, the released grants and programs to support small businesses as they reopen are needed

Thousands of workers forced to leave

Ms Ryan said, "Lockdown after lockdown saw thousands of workers forced to leave the industry in search of more certain work, but not enough have returned. Who can blame workers for leaving the industry when Labor's lockdowns and yo-yoing restrictions left them unable to pay the bills?"

"This is why the Liberals and Nationals are calling on the Government to fund a sign-on bonus for new staff to take up jobs that desperately need to be filled. Unless the Victorian Government adopts new ideas to attract and retain workers, we'll continue to see venues cut back their opening hours at a time when so many Victorians are eager to support local businesses to recover." Ms Ryan said.

Sign-on bonuses to new staff

The Liberals and Nationals have listened to the sector and developed a plan to offer sign-on bonuses to new staff until June 30, 2022. In metropolitan Melbourne, new employees would receive $250 after 10 days of work within a 30-day period and a further $250 after another 30 days work within a 90-day period.

In regional Victoria, $500 should be paid after 10 days of work within a 30-day period and a further $500 after another 30 days of work within a 90-day period.

Pictures from Business Victoria Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• More ambulances and paramedics for Latrobe Valley from Andrews Labor government
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• Latrobe City Council seeks to attract manufacturers for Australian Defence Force to Latrobe Valley
  Latrobe City Council is seeking to raise the City’s manufacturing profile by contacting businesses in the defence supply chain from across Australia, with the intent of attracting new opportunities to the municipality.
• Free camping plan along crown river frontages sparks bushfire concern for Gippsland and regional Victoria
  Figures reported this week show Forest Fire Management Victoria attended 1435 bushfires in the last financial year - 860 were caused by unattended campfires.
• More than $110,000 funding goes to community groups via Community Assistance Grants program from Wellington Shire Council
  Wellington Shire Council this week approved more than $110,000 in funding to local community groups for events, projects and facilities, through its Community Assistance Grants program.
• More jobs in Latrobe Valley as Govhub opens for business
  GovHub to open and create more jobs in the community and support economic growth.
• More outdoor trading over summer period to be encouraged by Bass Coast Shire Council
  Bass Coast Shire Council will once again transform outdoor spaces to encourage more outdoor trading over the coming summer period.
• Activating our outdoor spaces this summer for business in Bass Coast Shire
  Bass Coast Shire Council is helping local businesses to create outdoor trading and dining spaces across the Shire this summer.
• Permit fees for outdoor dining waived by Bass Coast Shire Council
  Bass Coast Shire Council will waive permit fees for hundreds of hospitality venues to encourage more outdoor dining to help the region bounce back from pandemic lockdowns.
• More than $136,000 award from Wellington Shire Council funding to support for local events and projects
  Local community groups will receive funding to host events and develop projects, following the latest round of Wellington Shire Council's Community Assistance Grants awarded this week.
• More alcohol and drug detox beds needed in Latrobe Valley says Russell Northe
  Mr Northe indicated this had been a long running issue with many local individuals, families and service providers frustrated by the lack of services in a community that desperately needs detox beds.
• Rapid COVID-19 testing key for getting regional and Gippsland VLine trains back on track
  Lengthy shutdown to Victoria's regional train network is driving a push for rapid testing to be rolled out for staff across the public transport network.
• No more excuses for bushfire recovery delays in East Gippsland from Andrews Labor government
  All levels of government have been challenged to stop making excuses and get on with the job of delivering bushfire recovery projects in East Gippsland.
• Replacement of more than a thousand existing street lights with new energy efficient LED for Wellington Shire starts 1 May 2022
  Wellington Shire Council will undertake a bulk replacement of more than 1400 streetlights from 1 May, as part of a Gippsland-wide project to improve energy use and safety.
• Strengthening community safety in Moe with 35 new CCTV in CBD
  Community members and businesses welcomed the installation of 35 new CCTV cameras in the Moe CBD Precinct.
• Business Fibre Zones with 1 GB Internet connections coming to Warragul and Wonthaggi-Inverloch from agreement between state government and NBN Co
  Victorians can look forward to more areas of their state being able to access the highest speed NBN speed tiers under a co-investment agreement between NBN Co Limited (NBN Co) and the Victorian Government, announced today.
• Importance of regional not-for-profit aged care facilities in Gippsland
  Victoria needs more residential aged care facilities and support to meet existing and future demand from an ageing population.
• Click and collect available at Wellington shire libraries so bookworms can continue reading during lockdowns
  Libraries across Wellington Shire may be closed due to current restrictions, but bookworms can continue reading via the Click and Collect service.
• Free outdoor play sessions in Wellington Shire for children's week
  Families across Wellington Shire will have plenty to celebrate during Children's Week, with free outdoor play sessions held in several locations.
• Gippsland live performance presenters and suppliers can apply for state support from event cancellations between May and September
  The Victorian Government is providing more support for live performance events that have been cancelled due to the recent coronavirus restrictions.
• Baw Baw Shire and Latrobe City Council get extra $13,200 from state government 'Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program'
  Eastern Victorian Councils will receive more funding to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies thanks to a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
• New data shows demand for youth mental health service highest in Victoria
  Harrowing new data from the Kids Helpline shows the emotional toll Daniel Andrews' lockdowns are taking on the youngest Victorians.
• Record number of teams to enter Australian Netball Championships held in September at Traralgon
  Teams from across the country joining Australian Netball League to compete on the upcoming netball competition.
• Latrobe Valley Jobs Fair in Morwell on 10 March to bring job seekers and employment providers together
  Job seekers from across the Gippsland Employment Region will have the chance to chat to employers face to face when the Morrison Government's Latrobe Valley.
• Two long years since Andrew Labor government flagged intention to establish Stolen Generations Reparations package
  Victoria has today announced details of a Stolen Generations redress scheme.
• Fertiliser shortage highlights multi-billion-dollar economic opportunity to bring manufacturing back to Victoria
  A new plan to relieve fertiliser shortages by increasing production in Australia has highlighted the multi-billion-dollar economic windfall a shift in focus to bring manufacturing back to Victoria could deliver.
• Omeo Mountain Bike Trails can proceed as planned
  Mountain bikers, tourism operators and supporting businesses are jumping with joy following news that the Omeo Mountain Bike Trails can proceed as planned.
• Timber shortage from East Gippsland lockdown risks Christmas shortages in medicine and goods
  Chocolate, beer and medicine face massive supply disruptions over Christmas if the nation's largest timber pallet manufacturer is denied access to timber.
• Outrage among regional motorists as new data shows most neglected local government areas in country Victoria
  The sad state of country roads is driving outrage among regional motorists with new data painting a picture of Victoria's most neglected local government areas.