Programs > Index


INTERNATIONAL WORKER EXCHANGES

INTRODUCTION & CONCEPT

The labour intense hotel & restaurant industry is challenged to find skilled and semi skilled workers in all parts of the world. This is particularly severe in the developed countries where shortages have reached extraordinary proportions. Conversely, developing countries suffer from the lack of exposure that their young workers have had, most of whom have never travelled far from their villages or communities and have never been exposed to other cultures or hospitality styles.

While some bilateral agreements do exist, no international program has been established.

In 2005 IH&RA will establish a Pilot Project of the Global Worker Exchange Program in which young hotel and restaurant workers with experience of 18 months in the industry will qualify for an exchange visa. The Pilot Project will access funds earmarked for the areas effected by the Tsunami and will commence with approximately 25,000 workers.

The program will be designed to benefit only IH&RA member nations and member chains and, where associations do not exist, assistance for their formation will be provided by the IH&RA Association Launch Program *.

THE OBJECTIVE

A consortium of international organisations will facilitate the mobilisation of two million skilled and semi skilled hotel and restaurant workers.

The initiative anticipates,
1. A Pilot Project involving 25,000 workers from areas effected by the Tsunami.
2. Needs Analysis & prioritisation.
3. A technical training component.
4. Transportation subsidies.
5. Visa coordination.

YOUTH AT RISK

INTRODUCTION & CONCEPT

In 2005, the IH&RA will investigate the interest of its members in the formation of a program that will address the opportunities that our Members can offer to Youth at Risk. Without doubt, the Hotel & Restaurant Industry offers, incredible employment opportunities to the youth of the world and within all operators there are seen to be opportunities to offer a chance to those less fortunate.

There would appear to be obvious geographical areas where a program of this type would be best started:

1) Africa
2) Caribbean
3) South Africa

A program of this magnitude will require several years for the support to be cleared and so that the momentum is sustainable. For this reason, IH&RA envisions a partnership with one or more other organizations that have similar interests or ideally, already an existing program.

To function effectively, IH&RA envisions that it will secure sponsorship for the establishments of a network of coordinates in each member nation. Non-member nations should be attracted to IH&RA membership in order to access this program.

Each National Network will include:

a) A Director in the National Association
b) A team of Human Resources Coordinators to provide placements

HOTEL & RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION BEST PRACTICES

INTRODUCTION & CONCEPT

In 2005, the IH&RA will embark on the evolution of a program that will develop a library of Hotel and Restaurant Association Best Practices that will evolve into a reference data base for new and existing organizations. The library, housed on the IH&RA Website will be enhanced by semi annual seminars (conferences to coincide with the spring NACE meeting and the Annual Congress).

The goal of the program will be to:

1. Assist existing Association executives to enhance the services, value, satisfaction level and financial result of their organizations.

2. Assist new associations to be formed

3. Provide an Emergency Response Team to assist Associations that is in trouble for which interim funding options may be provided.

The program will require the participation of a Steering Committee from amongst the NACE members for which they will be remunerated. The program will be operated by an outside source with experience in this field.