Australia could suffer from chef shortage due to 457 visa crackdown

When Keystone Hospitality Group failed in early November to turnaround the six Australian franchises of the Naked Chef, former owner and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver decided to buy the business back. Other Australian fine dining establishments may not have celebrity chefs to attract diners, but in the coming months, attracting even non-celebrity chefs may be harder to find.

The looming chef shortage could turn into a kitchen crisis for Australian restaurants after the Australian federal government announced a plan to crackdown on 457 visas. Migrant workers, including chefs and cooks hired by Australian food establishments, get the 457 visa to work legally in the country.

In shutting the door to foreign chef, the Coalition claims the 457 visa is being used to exploit chefs from overseas. According to data from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, cooks and chefs top the 457 visas granted by Australia to migrant workers, Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Almost 3,500 worker’s visa were issued to foreign chefs and cooks, followed by programmers (3,000) and medical officers (less than 2,500). Other professions granted the 457 visa include ICY analyst/manager, sales and marketing, restaurant manager, software engineer, university lecturer, management consultant and accountant.

Andrew Hughes, lecturer at the Australian National University’s College of Business and Economics, says the crackdown is Australia’s attempt to solve a political problem in response to US President-elect Donald Trump and populism but failed to take into account the economic repercussion of such a move.

Local restaurants have to import chefs because there are not enough Australians willing to work as one due to the long hours which kills social life or lack of status of the profession. Australia’s dining sector employs about 554,200 workers spread inn 35,900 restaurants, cafes and caterers, The Age reports.