The Age quotes Angela Vithoulkas of VIVO Cafes

Angela Vithoulkas, Director of VIVO Cafe Group, Sydney CBD, was interviewed recently by The Age Newspaper for their article titled “Confusion reigns while hospitality profit margins fall”.

The article stated that many restauranteurs and cafe owners are confused about the weekend and public holiday penalties and loading costs on staff wages.   The level of wage variations depends on the jurisdiction, the award, the business type and whether it is a sole trader or a company.

The hospitality staff and wages problems will soon be exacerbated by permanent visa changes on cooking courses for overseas students which has led to a smaller pool of kitchen hands, cooks and wait staff.  It's estimated that the end to permanent visa-driven enrolments by international students arriving in Australia to undertake cooking courses  will cut about 6,000 workers out of the market.

Restauranteurs are also concerned about changes the Fair Work Act may soon bring and its effect on hospitality staff wages.

Angela Vithoulkas advised that the Vivo Cafe Group in George Street, Sydney CBD, is extending their trading hours every week day to 9.30 pm– partly as a way to increase revenue to cover the cost spike from power bills, rent and insurance.

“There's a big market to extend (hours) in the CBD,” said Angela Vithoulkas, director and co-founder.

Ms Vithoulkas said she understood the new wage rates may well go up by 20 per cent after July, “but nobody knows.”

 “Once you start copping power bills, and rent increases, then anything else is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

“So for those of us who don't night trade, we may actually be under-staffed in future because where will the extra money come from? We can't pass on everything to customers.”

To read the full article in The Age click here

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