Vocational training will help get skilled staff

Though the Food Safety and Standards Act Compliance 2006 and Regulations 2011 has been implemented, hoteliers believe the Central government’s vocational training programme will help them get skilled and certified staff.

Skilled staff would not only understand the importance of food safety and kitchen hygiene, but also ensure that they are followed.

“The vocational training program will help us get skilled staff. For example, a person who makes perfect jalebis or dosas will not only get a certificate, but also know how to ensure food safety and maintain kitchen hygiene while cooking,” suggested Shashikant Shetty, general secretary, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association.

“At present, most of the staff in restaurants is uneducated. The course will ensure that there are certified people who know their job. This will ease our job to maintaining a clean environment,” he added. 

Vijay Gautam, director of Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, said: “We have already started implementing the skill upgrade programme. The target is ambitious and is not limited to one industry. We want to include the construction industry too. The idea is to ensure that we can sharpen the skills of uneducated people and help them get jobs.”