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Hospitality sector braces itself for eastern exodus
The UK hospitality sector could be faced with a temporary staff shortage as thousands of Eastern European workers are set to return to their homelands.
The depreciating value of the pound and the general worries over the UK economy, combined with the striving Polish economy have resulted in a significant number of Eastern Europeans – particularly Polish – planning to return home.
According to Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, it is hard to assess the possible effects of a large-scale exit of foreign workers.
"Over 145,000 workers from Eastern European countries took their first job in the hospitality industry since the accession countries entered the EU.
“We don't know how many are still working in the sector so it's difficult to comment on the damage any reduction in the numbers might inflict on the industry.
“However, London in particular has always been a very cosmopolitan industry with 80 per cent of workers from countries outside the UK, so any significant loss of Eastern European workers would affect hospitality employers.
“These workers have certainly taken up the slack in the past few years, easing the recruitment difficulties which the industry faces. Without them, hospitality employers would be very much more short-staffed.
“If significant numbers return home, the industry will be hard-pressed to fill the gaps they leave. “