The new regulation, which will replace the regulation on the qualification requirements for catering workers that came into force on 1 September, could be published this week, László Kovács, president of the MVI, told Chef Inspiration.
On Tuesday, the Hungarian Hospitality Industry Association (MVI) and three other organisations representing hospitality workers sent a joint letter to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology urging it to urgently relax the qualification requirements for kitchen workers.
Although the MVI website This new regulation, which has been the subject of much publicity in recent days, has been in place since 24 August, but the profession has only now started to address the issue, following the anecdotal news about inspections and penalties - László Kovács told us.
“There were compelling reasons for the late awakening, as after a year and a half of COVID, the summer was a time of opening, difficulties in starting up, staff shortages and day-to-day operational problems for those in the industry.”
At the beginning of October, when the new regulation became widely known and it became clear that everyone from hot food kitchens to buffets could be hit by the new qualification regulation, professional organisations reacted quickly. In a joint letter, they asked the relevant ministry to remove the qualification requirement for buffet cooks, flame-cookers and street food workers, who are usually one-man businesses. And for workers in kitchens and confectioners' shops, a single qualified worker should be required, as was the case under the previous legislation.
László Kovács said that they are confident that the ministry understands the problems facing the sector and that they do not aim to make the operation of kitchens, buffets and confectionery units impossible. The sector may retain some vision, but even that is not enough to really plan for a sector that has lost a significant proportion of its workforce over the past year and a half, and the attractiveness it once had for the workforce.
Author: by Beregi-Nagy Edit
