Too many local chefs can’t handle heat: manager

Mr Gupta said most chefs hired locally did not last very long.

‘They would just leave,’ he said.

‘We get very busy and there can be a lot of mental pressure.

‘After about a month they would start calling in sick, would want weekends off or not show up.

‘We need dedicated workers.’

He said only one chef had been lured away by the prospect of higher wages on the mines.

Mr Gupta came over on a visa more than three years ago and took over the business last week.

All five qualified chefs at the restaurant came to Australia on visas.

‘We have lots of hours for people who want them,’ Mr Gupta said.

Mr Gupta said he had good and bad experiences with staff who immigrated on skilled visas, but at least managers would have more hiring options now.

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