Visa restrictions and sponsorship cost challenges could see Kyneton’s Little Swallow Cafe lose three valued chefs as their visas expire.
The chefs have been filling worker shortages at the cafe since 2023 but the federal government has not offered them optional permanent residency at the end of their visa period.
“As their 485 visas expire, without permanent residency, they have three choices: go home, go to Western Australia or Tasmania, or find a business that can offer them a 407 sponsor visa,” cafe owner Daniel Richards said.
“Unfortunately, sponsorship is completely out of the realm of what we can offer here after 2024. It was a horrible year for hospitality. Every input cost went up – gas, electricity, as everyone has been experiencing.”
One of the chefs has already departed the cafe, another has resigned and will leave for Tasmania this month, but remaining chef Manjit Kaur is holding onto hope, her visa ending in September.
Ms Kaur told the Express she wanted to continue working at the cafe and raising her young family in the area. Her eight-year-old son was born in Australia and goes to school in the Macedon Ranges.
“It’s very difficult to find sponsorship because a lot of people are wanting to do that,” she said.
“If I have to move to another state, I have to start from zero. I have built a life here. Moving would disrupt my son’s whole life – he is at school here. This is my home now – I don’t want go somewhere else.
“We have done everything in the requirements: we have taken up regional work, learnt skills, we are paying tax, and doing everything that we can. Chefs have fallen behind in the queue. Other workers are getting invitations for residency. I would ask that the government please invites chefs as well.”
Not being able to retain the skilled chefs would also have big a flow-on effect for Little Swallow Cafe.
Unable to attract Australians to fill the positions, Mr Richards said he now faced potential cut-backs to the cafe’s open-hours.
“Unfortunately, that will result in the other 22 local staff losing shifts. If we cut back to five days, that’s 14 shifts lost. It will also affect the turnover of the business, the amount we buy from suppliers, and our customers,” he said.
“It’s a massive issue, it’s not just impacting the chefs here and my business. There was an exodus from the hospitality industry during the pandemic largely due to the uncertainty and stress.
“The role of a 485 visa is for the visa holders to develop skills in industries where there is a lack of talent or willingness within Australia to complete certain roles. Chef roles were one of those roles back in 2023 and should still be on the list.
“Why take away employment from somebody that has a legitimate job, pays taxes and contributes to society when there are no replacements other than those on 485 visas?”
Mr Richards said he had tried to get clarity from the government and was now assessing his options.
Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters told the Express she was working with the minister’s office on this issue.
“Immigration matters are complex, and my office has asked the owners of Little Swallow for more details about their impacted employees to assist with understanding the issue. So far, I have not been provided with that information,” she said.
“The employees themselves have made no contact with my office or sought assistance. Without permission from the employees to discuss sensitive and confidential matters, it is not appropriate to comment on these individual cases.
“Employer-sponsored visa pathways are available for businesses to assist them to recruit the staff they need in areas of identified skill shortages.”
