New opportunities through integration: Dorff Küche GmbH wins chef from Egypt

Skills shortage after Corona: a story of opportunities, challenges and cohesion

Hanover Region

The shortage of skilled workers has Germany firmly in its grip - a development that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. One example that highlights this dilemma is Dorff Küche GmbH, a subsidiary of Klinikum Wahrendorf, which supplies 148 delivery points with a wide range of needs and requirements every day. However, everything has changed since the pandemic: the challenges have grown, the applications have dried up - despite great efforts.

Today, the Dorff kitchen employs 63 people, including 17 chefs - a profession that is becoming more and more of a bottleneck every year. Some of the chefs come from faraway countries, including an Egyptian chef, a Tunisian and a Chinese colleague. The integration of international specialists is a key issue. But the reality is harsh: there have been no new applications or trainees for five years. Despite a wide range of measures - from presentations at schools and careers fairs to cooperation with daycare centers and schools - the hoped-for response has failed to materialize.

Anke Zeisig, Managing Director of Dorff Küche, looks back on twenty years of observing the development and acknowledges: "The shortage of skilled workers has never been so serious." The days when qualified specialists applied for jobs are a thing of the past.

New hope through international skilled workers - overcoming hurdles, seizing opportunities

Hanover Region

In the midst of this crisis, Dorff Küche found a new solution through the federal THAMM program and the Hannover Region Welcome Center - the Egyptian chef Remoon Mekhaiel Naoum Ryead. Ryead, who came to Germany on April 8, 2024, started working at Dorff Küche just a few days later, on April 14. It was a long journey: he completed a German language course in the THAMM program within 6 months. After the language course ended, he had to wait six months for his permit, without any language practice. But he was determined to work in Germany. With the support of the Welcome Center and the integration officer at Warendorff Hospital, Laura Brandes, he finally found his place in the team.

The team's initial concerns were understandable: would a chef from Egypt be able to maintain the high quality of work in the Dorff kitchen? Would the language barrier make communication difficult? But after just two weeks, the skepticism had disappeared. Ryead had integrated perfectly into the team, had a good command of German and showed great commitment. "It was the best thing we could have done," says Anke Zeisig. Not just for the company, but also for her colleagues - a broadening of horizons and a step towards greater cultural openness.

Thanks to the extensive support from the Welcome Center and THAMM, as well as the expert guidance of Laura Brandes, the integration went smoothly. "The official processes ran smoothly and we received a lot of support," says Brandes. It quickly became clear that skilled workers from third countries could be a valuable solution for the German labor market, especially in the catering sector, where the demand for qualified workers is becoming increasingly urgent.

A new phase of life

Hanover Region

For Remoon Mekhaiel Naoum Ryead, the move to Germany not only means a new professional environment, but also a new life. In Egypt, the working conditions were tougher: few vacations, long working hours, hardly any free time. In Germany, he not only has better working conditions, but also a better work-life balance. "That was the main reason why I came to Germany," he explains. The planning security and stress-free working hours are a real benefit for him.

But there are also challenges in Germany - especially adapting to the new culture. For example, when Ryead receives his bike, he asks about the traffic rules in Germany. "It's the little things that help me to find my way around here," he says. And the Dorff Kitchen team is more than just a workplace for him: "The colleagues are great, they always support me."

However, the cultural exchange goes beyond work. In summer, there is a big summer party where all employees of the Warendorff Clinic come together. At Christmas time, the festive atmosphere is celebrated at a joint Christmas party with delicious food, mulled wine and punch. A completely new experience for Ryead. He has already discovered a bit of Germany in his free time too - with walks, going to the gym and getting involved in food aid for the needy.

His family still lives in Egypt - his mother and three siblings, one of whom is also a chef. In the fall of 2024, Ryead took some well-deserved time off in his home country to spend time with his family.

A conclusion full of hope

The shortage of skilled workers remains a challenge - especially in times after corona. But the story of Remoon Mekhaiel Naoum Ryead and the Dorff kitchen shows that there are solutions, and these solutions often come from unexpected places. International exchange, integration and the courage to break new ground can help companies overcome the shortage of skilled workers. It is not only an opportunity for the companies, but also for the skilled workers to find a new home and contribute their expertise in a new environment.

"We have gained a lot - in terms of skilled workers, perspectives and cultural diversity," says Anke Zeisig. "And it's a decision that's good for all of us."