SPORTS> Off the Pitch
World Cup jobs 'still open'
(news24.com)
Updated: 2006-06-01 17:01

Berlin - Thousands of World Cup-related jobs are still open less than a month before the soccer tournament begins in Germany, the country's Federal Labour Agency said Wednesday.

Of the 23 000 additional service-industry jobs that employers have said will be created for the June 9 to July 9 tournament, half are still open, agency spokesperson Ulrich Waschki said.

In Berlin alone, where the World Cup final is to be played, there are 2 200 open places, with another 1 700 in Frankfurt, 1 200 in Dortmund, 750 in Hamburg and 400 in Munich.

About a third of all the positions are classified as "mini-jobs" - paying less than ?00 in a month - but others include higher-paying positions and even some long-term jobs, Waschki said.

Companies need a wide range of extra help, including drivers, security guards, cooks and dish washers.

"The pay varies - if you're working as a dish washer or a trained cook or security guard it's very different," Waschki said.

Though many positions remain open, that doesn't mean interest is lacking in a country with around 11% unemployment, Waschki said.

For the most part, companies are still sorting through applications or holding off until nearer the tournament to fill posts.