Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has backed a Motion for the instigation of measures to alleviate staff recruitment difficulties in the Hospitality and Tourism sector, given its importance to the local economy.

Tabled by Ulster Unionist Councillor Diana Armstrong, the Motion pointed at serious consequences for the industry and local economy due to a lack of workforce.

She said: “This sector is at crisis point ... It had an annual turnover of £2 billion in 2019, sustaining almost 7100 jobs.

"In our district, expenditure in tourism reached almost £80 million, creating a huge multiplier effect of injecting money into other areas of our local economy.

"We cannot allow bespoke mentoring and marketing to be lost if we do not have the essential component in place to keep the industry alive – a trained, dedicated and committed workforce.”

Councillor Armstrong continued: “It is our duty to ensure investment is safeguarded ... Since the onset of Covid the labour landscape has changed considerably. The availability of employees was impacted, leading staff to seek alternatives.

"Brexit means there is no longer the availability of European workers. Overseas workers relied upon to fill vacancies are simply not there.

"This limits business abilities to operate at full capacity ... Funding needs to be found immediately to support the sector and reinforce efforts to promote hospitality as an attractive career.”

Seconding, party colleague Councillor Howard Thornton said: “This sector is a key economic driver. The recent upsurge in tourism is most welcome to a sector that has suffered more than most due to the pandemic.

"The main issue is recruiting staff and accommodating demand. Government has provided major funding streams to promote tourism and protect jobs, but if the current trend continues, many businesses will not be able to cope.

"This will continue without central government intervention to allow long-term working visas to interested foreign nationals with experience and qualifications to provide a professional service.

"In the longer term, Stormont must ensure local people are encouraged into the industry. In turn, this will hopefully provide higher levels of pay and career prospects.”

However, Independent Councillor Eamon Keenan described the motion as “terrible”, and as benefitting only the business class.

He said: “We have a substantial tourism industry but many jobs are poorly paid. Therein lies the problem – many have left to seek decent wages in other industries.

"This Motion seems to want access to migrant workers who will very likely be exploited for cheap labour. It will do nothing for working-class people and will drive down their wages.

"It will only benefit the business class to increase their profits rather than pay proper wages to staff.”

Democratic Unionist Councillor Paul Stevenson said the sector is vital to the local economy, but added “we have to realise this problem is not unique to Northern Ireland or the UK".

He continued: "Up to 90 per cent of businesses in the Republic of Ireland have reported similar problems. Up to 30 per cent have warned they could face closure ... We need to encourage the government to work with this industry to attract staff.”

Councillor Paul Blake, SDLP, felt the Motion is “a step in the right direction” and he called for more pressure around better wages and upskilling of staff.

“This sector is so important to our economy in this district,” he added.

Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, Independent, revealed many hospitality workers reconsidered how they were being exploited and decided to leave during the pandemic.

He stated: “This Council shouldn’t become a lobbyist for employers unwilling to pay workers enough ... Instead of trying to get the government to facilitate exploitation of foreign workers, perhaps they should encourage employers to pay more.”

Independent Councillor Emmet McAleer felt the Motion “opens up the potential exploitation of both migrant and local workers".

He continued: "The tourism sector in this district is the jewel in the crown. But there’s no shortage of money at the top; it’s the workers who suffer.”

As well as switching jobs for better pay and conditions, Councillor McAleer also pointed to “disgusting levels of sexual harassment in the hospitality industry – all of that, combined with zero-hour contracts, paints a very bleak, although accurate picture of working in this sector”.

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Tommy Maguire described the industry as “a challenging environment”.

He said: “I have issues in the immigration point, considering this is the outworking of Brexit ... However, I am cautiously optimistic.”

The Motion went to a vote, with 21 in favour, four against and four abstentions.