The season is getting closer, works on new hotels and catering facilities are nearing completion, and the search for seasonal workers in Split is in full swing, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on March 18, 2019.
Inspired by previous experiences, some businesses posted advertisements for employment on portals specializing in mediation between employers and the workforce already a few months ago. Job interviews have been held, and most of the concerns have been solved.
However, in some Split hotels, there are still not enough cleaners and people to work in hotel laundries.
At the Split Regional Office of the Croatian Employment Service for Split-Dalmatia County, there are currently 27,705 unemployed persons, which is 508 persons or 1.8 percent less than in the previous month when they were 28,213 registered. And this is 4062 people, or 12.8 percent less than in February last year.
According to the level of education, the highest percentage of unemployed persons with secondary education up to three years is 35.4 percent, and persons who completed a four-year secondary education is 28.9 percent.
The most significant number of unemployed are occupations from the tertiary sector, from accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail trade, to other occupations such as salespeople, administrative officers, maintenance workers, cleaners, waiters, cooks, production workers, auxiliary chefs, and housekeepers.
“In addition to them, the records are dominated by a group of occupations such as economists and commercialists,” said Jela Gogić, the head of the Split Employment Service (HZZ).
In the last two months, a total of 2721 seasonal workers were sought, which is 3.4 percent more than in the first two months of 2018, when 1683 seasonal workers related directly to activities in accommodation and preparing and serving food.
“The most in-demand occupations are waiters, salespeople, chefs, maids, cleaners, assistant chefs, kitchen workers, auxiliary waiters, receptionists, tour guides and bartenders. This year’s demand for seasonal workers in tourism is dominated by large hotel companies in Split-Dalmatia County,” continues Gogić.
Recently, the available labor force includes pensioners over 60 years of age, who according to the new law, are allowed to work part-time, i.e., four hours through contracted work.
The Institute revealed that only five employers had been informed that they could hire pensioners, which does not mean that this number will not increase as the season approaches.
“According to the data we have and keeping in mind the activities the HZZ undertakes independently, such as education of the unemployed, surveying the workforce, days of work in tourism and the like, but also cooperation with other partners, we believe there will be no significant shortage of labor,” adds Gogić.
It is important to point out that in comparison to the previous years, probably due to the ever-increasing difficulty of finding seasonal workers in Croatia, as more and more find work abroad, the conditions of employment have improved.
“According to the information available, there is a visible improvement in the working conditions compared to the previous year, which refers to a slight increase in salaries, and a slightly longer period of employment,” Gogić reveals.
That the conditions offered by employers have improved is confirmed by Ante Grčić from Split, who claims he is already contracted for seasonal work.
“Two weeks ago, I had a job interview for the manager of a catering facility on Brač and this week I will finalize the contract with the owner. I’m starting to work in the first week of April. We agreed that I would work until the end of October.
I know some employers were recruiting workers in February, and the demand for labor is very high. Workers are so needed that there will be no problem in the summer to quit one job if the agreed conditions are not met and find a job with another, more honest employer, on the whole coast and islands.
There are jobs, and the situation is such that it is possible to choose what and under what conditions. Of course, provided you are a good worker,” Ante concluded.
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