The Restaurant Association says the provinces are worst hit by hospitality staff shortages during the summer. Photo: 123rf
The Restaurant Association is concerned about workforce shortages after many of its jobs were left off the list of new visas.
The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa lasts for three years allowing experienced workers into roles such as rural contracting, wine making and snow instruction.
Workers will need to return to their home countries for at least three months each year.
The Peak Seasonal Visa is valid for up to seven months for short term work in areas like food processing and wool handling.
Restaurant Association president Mike Egan told Midday Report he did not know why hospitality workers were not included.
Egan said that the sector had positive indications for the summer with international bookings but there was a fear they would not have enough workers.
He said that the provinces were the worst hit by shortages in the warmer months.
"They are probably looking 10 to 20 percent of the workforce they are looking to recruit and boost their numbers."
Ideally they would get workers from New Zealand but they relied on experienced overseas workers to fill seasonal gaps in the industry, he said.
He would like hospitality roles to be included on the list of jobs for the two visas.
Meanwhile, Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said the new visas would make it easier for employers to bring back seasonal workers and to fill short-term roles that were difficult to fill locally.
Business New Zealand chief executive Katherine Rich has also welcomed the new visas saying the move was a chance for sectors with periods of high demand to have consistency in workers from overseas.
Applications open for both visas on 8 December.
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