Staff shortages coupled with a housing shortage. Dublin is in trouble.

ittakestwo · 24-09-2021 1:04pm #1

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0924/1248728-retail-excellence-on-staff-shortages/

Just before covid broke out I remember hearing how a lot of employers in the retail and hospitality were struggling to get staff, particularly in Dublin city.

This problem went away with lockdowns but now that the restrictions are being lifted it seems we are back there again but now even in a worse position. A lot of foreigners who were in these jobs returned home during the lockdown. Many bussiness who are now trying to reopen just can't get staff. A lot of the employers here seem to think it just a case of issuing new visas to foreigners but we are also caught with a chronic housing shortage here too. It is not as simple as getting all the foreigners back here. If they gave up their accommodation it has been filled.

As restrictions lift further and with the busy Christmas period approaching I believe the situation is going to get worse.

Brucie Bonus · 24-09-2021 2:05pm

The plan seems to be if you can't afford to live beside mammy, leave the county and spend as much time on the commute as you do working or sign on welfare.

Providing accommodation for workers is only a thing if the worker is minted or the tax payer is supporting, either way it's a sky's the limit win win for developers.

Good piece on the radio there yesterday. Some American man was saying his area tackled it by allowing developers build higher and in more density only if the builds were 100% affordable. Seems this allowance helped the developer keep a decent profit and they are doing it and it is working.

One eyed Jack · 24-09-2021 2:10pm

I don’t think Dublin’s in trouble, but it says a lot about the retail and services industries that they are a fair greedy shower looking to maximise profits by employing low-cost migrant labour instead of hiring Irish people and paying them a proper wage.

Plenty of Irish employers do just that, so I don’t think the retail and services sectors should be any different. Quite telling too that they are willing to put said low-paid staff at risk. I really don’t think it’s visas are the issue as to why they can’t convince anyone to work for them.

Brucie Bonus · 24-09-2021 2:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117933410#Comment_117933410

I read today they were asking to have PUP wound up quicker so the people would be desperate sooner and come back to work for buttons.

tommybrees · 24-09-2021 2:16pm

It's a mess alright no doubt, but an average meal and a few drinks for two people wouldn't leave much change out of €100. And pretty much everywhere is packed. Something very wrong somewhere.

ittakestwo · 24-09-2021 2:31pm

They do need to wrap up the PUP straight away but it still won't solve the problem in Dublin. It was an underlying problem that the pandemic hid. Now things are reopening coupled with the fact that 17k foreigners who disproportionately worked in this sector have left will show Dublin is even in a worse position.

It is good inaway for employees in this sector as they can demand higher wages.

Brucie Bonus · 24-09-2021 4:43pm

It puts the burden back on low paid workers so business can return to higher profits. The workers being used as secondary. In the states they were offering scholarships and the like to woo employees. Here we'll just call them spongers who want everything for nothing.

malinheader · 24-09-2021 6:46pm

Pay them decent wages and they will come back. Rte reported today a possible 30 cent rise in the minimum wage, €2.40 extra for an 8 hour shift if you don't have your break deducted. I don't blame anyone for holding out as long as they can.

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 7:18pm

Good man Leo, never ending mass immigration into Ireland to continue the pyramid scheme and line the business people's pockets...

"Mr Varadkar said that "the churn of migration" has slowed down and many migrant workers were not able to travel as a result of restrictions on air travel. He said this should soon change and a new work permit system is being streamlined to make the visa situation better for migrant workers."

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 7:23pm

From the same article Sandra O'Casey who runs a doughnut shop is demanding more migrants are brought in on a permanent basis to help run her shops.

Government should tell her where to go but they won't they'll open the floodgates once again so they can have their cheap labour.

Wanderer78 · 24-09-2021 7:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117933547#Comment_117933547

wrapping up pup, ultimately puts the pressure back out onto the private sector, the private sector in turn must take on new debts, in order fill this void, at the moment, there are limitations for the private sector to do this, so by reducing the public money supply, via pup payments, this will more than likely slow overall economic activities......

ittakestwo · 24-09-2021 7:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934771#Comment_117934771

I don't get what you are saying. Surely having people on the PUP who are available to work, and there is plenty work for them too is putting pressure on the government finances as well as bussiness not being able to run at capacity

Thelonious Monk · 24-09-2021 7:53pm

For all the moaners on here about immigration, you can't have it both ways. The reason we need sh*tloads of immigration is because if we live in a country where the only goal of a Government seems to be to expand the economy, we need constant immigration. Unless we adopt some new way of running the country it's immigration all the way.

dudley72 · 24-09-2021 7:56pm

Stop the PUP and staff will arrive. Should have been cancelled months ago

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 8:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934851#Comment_117934851

People are "moaning" because businesses are saying without constantly increasing immigration they may have to increase wages.

"...also putting upward pressure on wages."

When does this mass immigration stop? We are already at almost 20% of our population. Does it just go on forever?

This is supposed to be a country not a big industrial estate for the benefit of business people and doughnut shop owners who are freaking out because there may be upward pressure on the minimum wage they have to pay out.

Thelonious Monk · 24-09-2021 8:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934872#Comment_117934872

well it wont stop if our only goal is to expand the economy, and that is the goal of every single government. We could change that, perhaps have a more socialist country where growth isn't everything and we all may have a little less money and less stuff, but no one wants that either. So it's immigration immigration immigration I'm afraid.

dudley72 · 24-09-2021 8:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934872#Comment_117934872

No companies then no work.

Immigration will not stop because we have work for people. The more the better as far as I am concerned. Let them come

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 8:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934885#Comment_117934885

Ya, I don't disagree,that's clearly the mantra at the moment from all Irish political parties.

I'm fundamentally opposed to what they are doing though but at least we can finally see throughout Europe attempts to change this including in France with Macron's sensible immigration proposals. Meanwhile in Ireland we are going the opposite way.

Thelonious Monk · 24-09-2021 9:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934908#Comment_117934908

this is a country where new chains of dominos opening is hailed in the press as a good thing as it creates jobs. Jobs that will be minimum wage and staffed by immigrants. It's not really something worth celebrating, but here we do.

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 9:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117933433#Comment_117933433

About time too.

I stayed in a number of hotels over the summer, where the overwhelming majority of staff were children, just out of school for the summer. Terrible service. Not the fault of the kids, just no experience.

the reason being that the hotel couldn't get their staff to come back because they were all on the PUP.

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 9:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934872#Comment_117934872

Can you explain what difference it makes if 20% of the country is made up of immigrants makes?

Brucie Bonus · 24-09-2021 9:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117935205#Comment_117935205

Enforced low paying jobs might have improved you holiday but its not something I'd support.

Covid has shown up a lot of issues. No chance the hotels might revisit profits and raise wages?

We too often put people in positions were they are forced into hardship so others can profit off them.

[Deleted User] · 24-09-2021 9:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934851#Comment_117934851

Wrong. The only reason we need sh**loads of immigration is that Irish people feel it’s beneath them to do menial jobs like cleaning, waiting tables etc. God be with the days when students would work at anything to support their social life!

Hamachi · 24-09-2021 9:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117935160#Comment_117935160

Talk about celebrating a race to the bottom! Yet another fast food outlet, to contribute to the growing obesity epidemic, staffed by low skilled migrants, who contribute little in real terms to this country. Woot! What a win!

Thankfully, the tide has turned against unfettered immigration across Europe. Even ultra-liberal Sweden is now more restrictive. It won’t be long before the spineless amoebas in the Dáil Éireann fall into line.

As for staff shortages, pay people a liveable wage and there will be no shortage of local and EU applicants.

listermint · 24-09-2021 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117935284#Comment_117935284

Genuine question though you've mentioned low wages over and over again. What's the difference for say an average waitress in Dublin including tips versus pup doing full-time hours. Let's talk brass tacks.?

Id argue the waitress earns far more money with the wage and tips than PUP provides but with PUP you don't have to bother? So tis handier.

Have you don't any maths to back up your argument of breadline talk?