The wages of Chinese restaurant workers have risen on average $100 a
The wages of Chinese restaurant workers have risen on average $100 a month in 2014, and more in other states and remote areas, said people working for several job placement agencies in New York.
They attributed the increase to the bustling economy and to more workers choosing full-service Chinese and Japanese restaurants over traditional Chinese takeouts. Experts expect pay for Chinese restaurant workers to rise further.
Staff members of the Ms. Pan Job Placement Agency in Manhattan’s Chinatown said that in the new year, wages paid by restaurants averaged $100 more than for the same positions last year. Ms. Zhang, who works for An An, another such agency, said restaurant workers working in other states often commute long distances between New York City and their work places. Few like to go work in remote areas where transportation is not convenient. Therefore, it is harder for restaurants in those locations to fill their positions. As a result the monthly wages there have jumped $100 to $200.
Ms. Geng, the manager of the Red Apple job placement agency in Flushing, Queens, said monthly wages for restaurant workers are averaging $100 more than in 2013. Many send money back to families in China. The exchange rate of the RMB, the currency in China, to the U.S. dollar has been rising. Only when their U.S. wages rise simultaneously are they able to maintain the same level of remittance.
Ms. Geng said many people like to work for full-service Chinese or Japanese restaurants now rather than Chinese takeouts because they often offer an hour-long break during the day while takeouts don’t. Takeout places end up increasing their wages by an average of $200 to attract workers. Although many people like to work in Japanese restaurants, not everyone is able to. Chefs in those restaurants normally have to speak English and it often takes five to six years to rise to the chef position from an entry level position.
Kenny Chan, president of the Chinese American Restaurant Service Association, said there are now an increasing number of Chinese restaurants, but they are facing a tight labor market. He expects wages to go up even more. He said many Chinese restaurants in other states are even starting to hire Hispanic workers but Hispanic workers often don’t have the skills to prepare Chinese cuisine so they are only able to work as assistants, not as chefs.
Recent severe weather kept restaurant workers from switching jobs. But job placement agencies expect more inquiries after the Lunar New Year.
By Carina Wang via World Journal
Translated by Rong Xiaoqing from Chinese
http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_news_14/24547444/article-%E4%B8%AD%E9%A4%90%E9%A4%A8%E6%9C%88%E8%96%AA-%E5%B9%B3%E5%9D%87%E6%BC%B2100%E5%85%83-?instance=nyhot