Judy Anne Griff
There is not an industry today that is not facing a challenge in finding skilled workers. As we face an aging workforce and competition for skilled labour in a world market, finding skilled workers required gets harder and harder.
Many companies have found a solution by finding skilled labour in other countries. They have found foreign workers that have the skills they are looking for and they are able to verify the credentials before the worker comes to Canada.
Employers must know that before you apply to hire a foreign worker the employer and the job offered must meet the some basic guidelines which can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website*. Remember that as an employer you have a responsibility to provide acceptable working conditions, reasonable duties and fair market wages. Foreign workers are protected by the same applicable employment legislation depending on if you are provincially or federally regulated.
There are many challenges that may present themselves in the process. Application processing times can take many weeks to many months depending on the occupation and country that the foreign worker is coming from. Employers need to be patient and try to avoid taking back their job offer due to this. The best way to deal with this is to start looking for foreign workers as soon as you forecast a future HR need or a shortage in the labour force. You may also wish to enlist the help of an immigration specialist to help you through the application process. I would recommend that you know all the rules before you start.
In the majority of cases, there are four steps involved in hiring a temporary foreign worker from outside Canada. The need to complete each step will depend on the specifics of the job offer and the foreign worker’s country of citizenship and last permanent residence.
It sounds complicated, but determine if you need a Labour Market Opinion and if you do contact Service Canada for an opinion. After acquiring the opinion, the foreign worker(s) complete the work permit application, which is then processed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. A Border Services Officer at port of entry issues the work. Employers and foreign workers must ensure they provide accurate and complete information or the application process may be delayed.
Recognition of foreign credentials is a major challenge faced by employers. Employers are sometimes unfamiliar with the training and work experience of foreign workers and may therefore refuse to hire them. There are many organizations and government agencies available to help assess credentials before arriving to Canada. On the other hand, many industries have occupations that have agreements in place with other countries recognizing foreign licensing and education.
Language barriers and cultural understanding can often prevent a foreign worker from integrating successfully into the workplace. It may also prevent a highly qualified worker’s potential and technical knowledge from being recognized. New immigrants may have lower level language skills or even unfamiliar accents that can present challenges in the workplace. However, many foreign workers in many occupations use English as their universal language. Language training services are a key element in overcoming barriers. Every community has educational facilities that offer English Language programs that can help you with this.
Employers may not realize that most acts of workplace racism and discrimination may be subtle or hidden. If left unchecked, this could ruin a company’s reputation both internally and externally. Employers should implement proper policies and procedures to convey messages of equality and acceptance of diversity. They should open the lines of communication so that employees know that they can speak to someone if they are victims of racism.
Formal and informal business networks can help employees connect with their community. Encourage newcomers to attend events hosted by your local Chamber of Commerce and by community oriented groups and associations (churches, YMCA, etc). The local settlement agency in your region may be able to connect your employees with multicultural associations or individuals with similar backgrounds.
Many foreign workers that work under temporary work permits would like to make Canada their permanent home. Employers interested in helping their employees become permanent residents should look into their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The process may seem overwhelming, but with help, experience and good planning, employers can find a wealth of skilled help all over the world to help when experiencing shortages.
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