Suresh Gopi bats for women’s workgroups, common kitchens to tackle hotel labour shortage

Kochi: Union minister of state for tourism and petroleum Suresh Gopi on Thursday urged the hospitality industry to form women’s workgroups and establish common kitchens to tide over the acute shortage of workers.A significant portion of the migrant workforce, who returned to their home states considering recent assembly elections, are unlikely to return anytime soon. The gap can be bridged by tapping into local resources, particularly by creating robust opportunities for women in the hotel, restaurant and broader hospitality sectors, Gopi suggested during discussion held with the leaders of Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) here.To realize the same, the minister proposed a collaborative model. He called upon KHRA to initiate comprehensive training programmes that equip local women with the necessary culinary and hospitality skills. The venture should be executed together with state govt and local self-governing bodies, he said.Assuring Centre’s support to the association, the union minister said he would personally request state govt to extend its logistical backing. “Such initiatives will not only offer a pragmatic solution to the ongoing labour deficit but will also significantly boost women’s workforce participation across the state,” he said.Welcoming the directive, KHRA state president G Jayapal said the association will formally deliberate on the implementation strategy during its upcoming state executive committee meeting next week. The leaders, including KHRA working president Azeez Moosa and district secretary K T Rahim, voiced their support for the structural shift towards local talent employment.