Be the first to comment!Hospitality industry is one of Malta’s fasting growing sectors – MHRA
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
The Malta Hotels and Restaurant Association (MHRA) has called for the recognition of the catering sector’s nature of operation.
The MHRA, in a statement said that, the hospitality industry remains one of Malta’s fastest growing sectors offering employment and work opportunities to thousands of people.
It added that the industry has been growing year after year over the past years, and is today one of the country’s main export earners. The MHRA pointed out that “it represents directly and indirectly 25 per cent of GDP. The sector has been growing year after year for the past 7 years and is today one of the country’s main foreign exchange earners.”
This growth, the MHRA said, “has come in the face of stiff competition from competing with Mediterranean resorts as well as unfavourable conditions in some countries, which has had the effect of driving business to stable countries.”
The hospitality industry cannot be taken for granted, the MHRA said, “and changes to the economics driving the industry could have a very undesirable significant impact on the industry.” It added that this sector “operates in highly dynamic and sensitive market conditions.”
The Association stated that ” suggestions being floated by some of the unions that employers in the hospitality industry should be compensated for working on weekends clearly fails to recognize the nature of the business and the economics that drive this sector.”
“The hospitality industry model depends on the work generated in weekends and the festive days, and for that matter at times when clients have their time off,” the MHRA remarked.
Adding that, “a lot of business is performed during such days and times and therefore can only be considered normal working time and definitely not extraordinary in nature.”
Tony Zahra, the MHRA President said, “whilst we recognise that every stakeholder in the hospitality industry deserves to participate in the success of the industry, one must bear in mind the dynamics surrounding this industry internationally and that success can only be achieved provided everyone remains with their feet firmly on the ground.”
