Murray Roberts talks about the need for migrant workers in hospitalit Murray Roberts talks about hospitality and the nee | Page 8

HOSPITALITY...
FOR THE MIGRANT WORKER
BY MURRAY ROBERTS, SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR, ASLOTEL
W
hen I first entered the
hospitality industry in 1967,
I was a young, graduate
trainee working in the
Westminster (London) Division of Trust
House Hotels - as it was then known. At
that time, the number of non-migrant
workers in the hotel was in the region of
5% of the total staffing complement.
Most of the staff from management
downwards comprised non-UK nationals so;
therefore, as someone who has been in the
industry for many years, I have difficulty in
understanding the current debate regarding
anti-feeling towards migrant workers. A
recent industry study confirmed that the
hospitality industry in the UK employs in
the region of 26% migrant workers, which I
consider a surprisingly low percentage.
Personally I doubt that, post Brexit, we
can expect this figure to rise, as the value
of the pound against most currencies,
namely the euro and US dollar, will deter
migrant workers from considering the UK
as an attractive destination for employment
which could be disastrous for the industry.
At best, we can only hope that the
experience of those migrant workers
already working in the UK and who have
a better understanding of the English
language and culture will be encouraged
to stay and influence those considering
coming here to work.
Since WWII, it is true to say, migrant
workers have played a significant role
in supporting the rapid expansion of the
hotel, catering and hospitality industry. In
that time, they have brought a multitude of
talents and skills that have influenced and
directed the industry and none more so
than in Housekeeping Management.
Looking back - in another prestigious, top
London hotel that I was privileged to work
for during the late 1960’s, we had a truly
8 Housekeeping management
cosmopolitan workforce where you could
count on one hand the number of British
born workers - of which I was one. The
fact of having migrant workers in the UK is
therefore not a new phenomenon and so
the question should be - how are we going
to attract enough new migrant workers to
staff the ongoing expansion of the industry?
I would go as far to say that if the UK is
perceived as an anti-migrant country the
industry as a whole will suffer in the short
and long term. I am not in the business
of making political statements and these
are my own views based on many years
experience of working within and supplying
products to the hospitality industry.
Let’s hope that when talks commence
and the Government get to discuss the
free movement of international migrant
workers, that the requirements of the
hospitality industry is taken into account.
We should be doing all we possibly can to
encourage workers from other countries,
make them feel welcome and reward their
efforts in areas such as housekeeping
which relies on high levels of both skilled
and unskilled staff.
My company, aslotel, acknowledges the
efforts and aspirations of all those who work
in hospitality and has sponsored awards in
recent years, particularly for housekeepers
and housekeeping teams through the
endeavours of Considerate Hoteliers and
more recently the AA Housekeeper of the
Year Award, which we are pleased to be
sponsoring once again this year.
A nomination form for this year’s entries
can be found on page 20 in this issue, so
don’t forget to nominate your Housekeeper
of the Year 2017.