Local Gastronomy and Tourism Industry Dependent on Immigration

According to a study by the Dema Institute led by social researcher Günther Ogris, almost 50 percent of employees in the industry are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants. During the presentation of the study in Vienna, he, along with restaurateur Andreas Fuith, warned of the consequences of a strict migration policy.

Two Thirds of Restaurateurs with Migration Background

"A strict immigration policy is an attack on the economy, especially gastronomy and accommodation," said Ogris on Thursday. The gastronomy sector is characterized by internationality and "has always been an open, curious industry," added Fuith. Additionally, a diverse workforce facilitates scheduling during religious holidays.

According to the information, the gastronomy sector in cities is particularly characterized by foreign employees. In Vienna, Graz, and Linz, employees with a migration background make up around 73 percent. Especially in the federal states heavily influenced by tourism, such as Tyrol (38 percent) and Salzburg (44 percent), Ogris assumes that the actual proportion is higher than the stated values, as seasonal workers, for example, are not recorded in the microcensus data used.

In Vienna, 35 percent of the industry's employees have Austrian citizenship - including 8 percent who have been naturalized. In addition, there are just over 20 percent from other EU countries. Slightly fewer come from Asia (including Afghanistan and Syria), 9 percent from Balkan states that are not EU members, and 5 percent with Turkish citizenship. Meanwhile, the high proportion of people with a migration background does not only apply to employees. The restaurateurs themselves in Vienna also have a migration background in two-thirds of the cases, according to Ogris.

(APA/Red)

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