More than 120 experienced hospitality staff in Antigua and Barbuda have registered to work in Jersey this summer as part of the inter-island exchange program – and Jersey employers are being urged to upload vacancies or risk losing access to this qualified workforce.
Under the Antiguan Hospitality Recruitment Scheme, Antiguans and Barbudans are being recruited to work for six months in Jersey. Employers (who must be part of Jersey Hospitality Association or the Chamber of Commerce to access the scheme) have until this Friday, 17 February, to upload their vacancies to the portal.
Jersey Hospitality Association Co-Chief Executive Officer Marcus Calvani said: “It’s fantastic to see how many high-calibre staff have registered; the Antiguan authorities will screen them all and whittle them down to the best 120 candidates. The majority of these candidates have not only a high level of education in hospitality, but also a diverse variety of skills and experience to suit our greater industry’s needs, and will be able to enhance Jersey’s reputation as a quality destination.
“Currently, the number of vacancies being advertised on the portal is below the number of candidates, and it’s up to Jersey employers to post the roles they want filled. If employers fail to post the roles on time, there’s a risk that the staff will no longer be available and they will not be able to participate in the 2023 program.”
Under the hospitality partnership scheme between the Governments of Jersey and Antigua and Barbuda, hospitality professionals will be coming to Jersey from April to September. Last year, the scheme enabled 50 Antiguan and Barbudan staff to work in Jersey, some of these employees are already back on Jersey working in full-time roles, showing the calibre of these individuals.
The successful candidates will receive pre-departure training in Antigua by the 17 March, and the first staff are expected to arrive in Jersey at the start of April.
Government of Jersey News Release