Page 496 - JobsPlus - Occupational Handbook

Butcher
Occupation Code: 7511
Alternative title: Meat Specialist
Job description and duties
Butchers prepare and sell meat and poultry and make meat products like sausages, burgers and beef olives (braġoli). They are required in stand-alone butcher shops or butcher sections in mini/supermarkets. A Butcher is expected to:
• Buy, order, store and control stock of meat and other related products
• Keep inventory
• Receive deliveries and check their content
and hygiene
• Store meat/meat products in cold storage
areas
• Create product displays
• Weigh, wrap and display pieces of meat and
other products
• Cut, bone and trim meat as required by
customers
• Help customers choose meat and advise
them on how to prepare and cook it
• Create new marinades for meat and poultry
• Cook meat (where applicable)
• Sharpen and maintain knives and butchery
equipment
• Keep the workplace clean and hygienic
Work environment
Butchers typically work on a full-time basis Monday to Saturday. Working on a Sunday may also be required according to business demands, particularly in supermarkets and also in cases where the butcher shop forms part of a restaurant. Shift work could be possible in supermarkets with long opening hours. Longer hours and busier shifts may be expected during festive seasons.
Since work involves cutting large pieces of meat and carrying boxes full of meat, Butchers need to be physically able to carry out this job.
Occupation data
Entry level education / special licences / warrants
To work as a Butcher, one needs to be in possession of a Food Handling Licence, a Food Hygiene Certificate and a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certificate.
For further details on specific licences, it is advisable to consult the Commerce Department.
Skills and knowledge are usually learnt through experience. On-the-job training is usually offered by the employer.
Number of employees (2017)
275
Share of foreigners (2017)
10%
Job Outlook (2018 - 2022)
+11%
Median Pay (per annum)
€9,900
Jobsplus
496