MANILA - As the country intensifies its campaign to boost tourism through the “It’s more fun in the Philippines" slogan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also sees a corresponding boom in the hotel and restaurant industry, and consequently in the need for more chefs and other such workers in the sector.
“The hotel and restaurant industry is a pillar of the tourism sector. It goes without saying that improved tourism means increased hotel and restaurant activities,” said Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.
“If this current trend continues, the growth in the hotel and restaurant industry is expected to provide more employment opportunities to our workers,” Baldoz said.
Data of the Department of Tourism shows that a total of 1,497,851 visitors came to the Philippines from January to April 2012, an increase of 14.61% over the previous year’s volume of 1,306,944 for the same period.
In anticipation of this demand, the DOLE has included the occupational position of chef in the DOLE’s Career Guides as one of the featured careers under the hotels and restaurant industry. The DOLE’s Career Guides can be accessed at the Bureau of Local Employment’s website:http://ble.dole.gov.ph/career.asp.
According to the career guide, there are no specific educational requirements for chefs. However, most employers prefer to hire high school graduates who have completed a course on commercial food preparation.
A four-year degree in International Hospitality Management, with specialty in culinary arts, will give a chef a distinct advantage when applying for a high-paying job, such that of an executive chef in a prestigious restaurant or hotel.
“For those who were not able to enrol in college this year, there are culinary schools that offer short-term courses in culinary arts for one year and two months; a three-month training program for the certification of the fundamentals in culinary arts; or a four-month training in commercial cooking, or a five-day culinary course,” said Baldoz.
A four-year degree in international hospitality management with specialty in culinary cost around P170,000 to P200,000 per semester, inclusive of the materials (utensils and ingredients) that will be used during the whole course.
As indicated in the DOLE’s Career Guide, salaries of chefs vary according to the type of food services establishment in which they work. The monthly salary for entry level chefs starts from P10,000 to P18,000, depending on the level of education they have achieved and if they are able to land a job in elegant restaurants and hotels.
Specifically, a chef is tasked to plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities; planmenus, ensure food meets quality standards; estimate food and labor cost; supervise activities of cooks and other kitchen staff; demonstrate new cooking technique; instruct cooks in preparation, cooking, garnishing of food displays; and plan the requisition of food and kitchen supplies.
“There are many employment and business opportunities for a chef, which includes authoring a cookbook, going into catering business for weddings, and business functions, among others. They can also work as consultants for restaurant owners who want to develop special menus,” Baldoz added.
source: interaksyon.com
