RESTAURANT operators want a one-stop centre to process the hiring of local cooks, following the human resources minister’s proposal that all eateries hire only Malaysians for the job beginning January 1.

“In the F&B (food and beverage) sector, we have a lot of problems because we do not have a one-stop centre to resolve them in one go,” Kayu Nasi Kandar Restaurant Group CEO Sirajudin Mohamed Mydin told Bernama today.

“We have to go through many bodies to get workers, including the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.”

He suggested that the government provide training or programmes to help the F&B industry develop human capital.

“How can we develop a chef if we do not have a specific institution that develops the F&B industry, especially in our sector?

“Currently, we are focusing too much on the hotel industry.”

He said the Human Resources Ministry should carry out an in-depth study before enforcing the policy, as it could adversely affect key players in the industry, as well as consumers. – Bernama, June 23, 2018.