Shortage of staff puts pressure on gastronomy in Saxony

While the summer weather has been kind to restaurateurs in Saxony, the industry is suffering from staff shortages and rising costs. Numerous pubs have had to introduce days off and reduce opening hours, according to Axel Klein, general manager of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) in Saxony. The lack of skilled workers would be particularly noticeable in the summer, he explained. Self-service for guests is often not a solution, he said. Rising costs of food, for example, put additional pressure on restaurateurs.

In addition, there continued to be a lack of international tourists in Saxony due to the effects of the Corona pandemic and the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. Business is not yet at the same level as before the pandemic, he said. Restaurateurs are not complaining about a lack of demand, according to Klein. "It's been surprisingly warm for a long time," he said. People were still sitting in beer gardens or eating on terraces in Saxony in September,