Thousands of Asian chefs are threatened with deportation from the Netherlands!
The largest Chinatown in the Netherlands is witnessing a state of panic, as thousands of Asian chefs are threatened with leaving the country due to a government policy that restricts the recruitment of specialized chefs from Asia. Since July 2023, the government has stopped extending work permits for chefs who arrived in the Netherlands after January 1, 2022, which may force them to leave the country soon.
The impact of the decision is catastrophic for Asian restaurants, especially in places like Chinatown in The Hague and soon also in Rotterdam, where it is difficult to find European alternatives with the necessary skills to prepare traditional Chinese cuisine.
Prominent businessman Bong Hing Ao, owner of several Asian restaurants in The Hague, explains that preparing Chinese dishes requires years of experience and skill in using spices and quick handling under pressure, qualities that are hard to find in European chefs.
In this regard, Chang Wong, the president of the Chinatown Business Association in The Hague, warned that the decision will lead to the closure of many small restaurants owned by Asian families. The absence of specialized chefs, who combine cultural, linguistic, and culinary skills, makes it impossible to maintain the quality and authenticity of the dishes offered.
In turn, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) clarifies that the recruitment of chefs from Asia is still possible, provided that it is proven that there are no suitable candidates from Europe through a labor market test, a condition that restaurant owners find almost impossible in light of the shortage of specialized competencies.
A potential solution suggests granting chefs temporary work permits for two years, with a mandatory three-month break before returning again, along with restrictions such as prohibiting the recruitment of family members and tying residency to the employer, to avoid exploitation. It is believed that this system will provide the necessary skilled chefs and protect the future of the Asian restaurant sector in the Netherlands.