It could be said that the desire to go out and celebrate a party in style has doubled, if one takes into account that in the last two years the pandemic has put the organization of patron saint festivities on standby, a hallmark of our country. A situation that was hard blow to society and that directly affected the hotel and restaurant industry.
A sector, which is now beginning to take flight, but which demands professional waiters, as indicated in the latest Social Security report, which reflects that 2.8% of hotel workers who worked in the hotel before the pandemic have not returned to their jobs.
Who has done it, taking advantage of the Teruel festivities is Irene Márquez from Zaragoza. She is 25 years old, she has a degree in Marketing and Market Research from the University of Zaragoza, she works at the Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce and, when she can, also as a waitress.
“At the age of 18 I started working in party bars in Zaragoza. Since then and after having been in several places, without a doubt, I’ll stay with Teruel “, says the young woman who this Friday, when leaving her work in the Aragonese capital, put heading to the Vaquilla “to give everything, but working”.
“They are special parties, because of the atmosphere, because of the people… For everything in general. And the working conditions, as in other sectors, It depends on the degree of the professionals and the waiter position you hold“, comments the Zaragoza.
With a Estimated average salary paid at 10 euros per hour, she claims not to work only for the money, “that too”, but for the “unbeatable” conditions offered by the event company that hires her. “I will be four intense and non-stop days. But it is true that the schedules are respected, with their corresponding breaks,” says Irene Márquez.
“You have to like what you do and I love it,” says the young woman, hours before putting on behind one of the bars of the Peña El Chasco de Teruel, which do not close during the day or at night. “We are a large group of waiters with different shifts. There are colleagues with whom you don’t even coincide throughout the weekend. The experience makes up for even the exhaustion you end up with each day“says Irene Marquez.
Who is also enjoying “a lot” these days is the young Sara Giaquinta Santamaría, but in another festive setting, also par excellence for these dates. Her chosen destination is Pamplona and the Sanfermines. A physiotherapist by profession, this 25-year-old, who has worked in Zaragoza “until a few months ago”, decided to experience the festivities of the Navarran capital from within “for economic reasons“.
“I am planning to travel to Australia and it is the easiest way to save. A friend of mine had already worked in a bar in Pamplona and convinced me to come. You earn a lot of money in a short time, but it is not as easy as it seems. There are many hours of work for several days in a row. Although the truth is that it’s worth it, because you also have fun“, comments the young woman, hours before standing behind a bar counter, next to the Plaza del Castillo in Pamplona. “I came a week ago to learn how to work here and meet the colleagues, because it is not that simple to be a waitress as it seems”, says Sara Giaquinta.
“The hour is paid approximately 15 euros, but it varies depending on where you are. They have given me an eleven-day contract and I work an average of twelve hours a day with their corresponding breaks and stops to eat. I can’t really complain about the conditions”, says Sara Giaquinta, who when the Sanfermines are over she will have around 2,000 euros more in her account.
“There are several work shifts, in each one we are ten people counting cooks and cleaning service. The experience is being very good”, explains the physiotherapist, “although it has only been three days and they are being very intense”. “Surely the adventure ends as well as it began… That yes, I will be something more than exhausted”, concludes between laughs.