Desperate Highland firms are having to bring in foreign workers on special visas to deal with a major staffing crisis blamed on Brexit.They claim it’s the only way to deal with a drop in income caused by having to partly close restaurants and cafes as there are no staff to work in them.
Neil Morrison, who runs hospitality businesses in the Highlands and Islands, and Argyll, has brought in specialist chefs from India to work at Macgochans bar in Tobermory and The Ben Nevis Bar in Fort William.Neil, of Mull, said: “They are an asset to the business and are settling in well.
We’re bringing in a lot of chefs but it’s a lengthy and expensive process, £2000-£3000 for the visa licence per candidate. We started the process last year but it’s only in the last couple of months we’ve had the people come here.”He is also buying properties for his staff to live in.
Neil said:“It was the only way I could see out of it. It was preemptive because I could see other places not being able to open their doors so thought we had better act now.
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