Transcript Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium Globalizing Your Barns

Temporary Lower Skilled Foreign Workers Recruiters for Canada
Halyna Mohylova
[email protected]
Yuliya Balina
[email protected]
Find this presentation at: www.rachisholm.com
Ronald A. Chisholm Limited
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Chisholm, established in 1938, is one of the
world’s leading agrifood merchants
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada Chisholm also
has offices in Montreal, Denver, Dublin, Paris,
Prague, Melbourne, Minsk, Sao Paulo, Moscow,
St. Petersburg and Guangzhou.
We export, import and trade meat and dairy
commodities globally.
Chisholm is a market maker for its clients and
takes on all risk inherent in their transactions
providing logistics, finance and currency options,
market opinions, research and information.
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Greetings from Toronto
Gregg Badger
[email protected]
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Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
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Categories of Occupations: High-Skilled Occupations, Lower-Skilled
Occupations, Live-in Caregivers and Seasonal Agricultural Workers
Chisholm focus is on Temporary Low Skilled Foreign Workers for
meat plants.
To hire foreign worker the employer in Canada must obtain a positive
Labour Market Opinion (LMO-also known as employment
confirmation) from Service Canada
Then the worker must apply for a Work Permit at Canadian visa office
abroad and depending on their country of citizenship may require a
temporary resident visa before entering Canada
Medical Examination is also required
Foreign workers may be refused a work permit and entry into Canada by
a Boarder Service officer if they are found inadmissible for a number of
reasons, including criminal, security or medical ground
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Chisholm’s Foreign Worker Program
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Established in early 2003 in order to facilitate the hiring of foreign workers by
Canadian meat plants
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Program started and led by a senior officer at Chisholm, Gregg Badger; managed
by Halyna Mohylova and Yuliya Balina
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Chisholm acts as agent and facilitator for Canadian employers who wish to hire
foreign workers
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To date, Chisholm has secured about 1,415 temporary low skilled workers for
some twenty employers in six Canadian provinces; 2 to over 200 at a time
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Sourced from 7 countries- 3 remain active-Mauritius, Ukraine and Philippines
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Since the fall of 2008, demand for Temporary foreign Workers has gone in the
Western provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) but
Quebec has opened up
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Chisholm Foreign Worker Program in Quebec
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Started in 2003
Breakthrough with government in 2008
Engaged IOM in 2008
First approval for 33 workers received in 2009 for Lucyporc
In 2010 Olymel St. Esprit received an approval for 100
98 Mauritians arrived in Canada in 2009-2010
38 are currently in the process
We expect more employers to engage in the Program and are
awaiting more approvals from the government in the upcoming
months
We are looking for French speaking alternatives to Mauritians
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Chisholm and IOM
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The original Agreement between IOM Mauritius and Chisholm signed in
September 2008
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In September 2009 Chisholm and Olymel travelled to Mauritius with the
objective to meet with the selected candidates for further interviews and
orientation; to meet government officials in Mauritius and to get to know the
culture and the way of life of Mauritians
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Chisholm and Olymel also travelled to Kenya to meet with CIC officials in
Nairobi to go over the project and introduce the parties involved
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The trip was organized and managed by IOM Mauritius and the experience and
the assistance provided by IOM has been invaluable
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We expect the project to expand and succeed in Quebec and are looking for
additional French speaking source countries. We hope to work with other IOM
offices and have the level of comfort we have experienced with IOM Mauritius
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Expectations of Foreign Recruitment Partners
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Support from the local government
Excellent reputation with CIC offices
In depth pre-screening of the candidates
Assist workers with visa application process with CHC on behalf of the
workers
Coordinate pre-departure orientation workshops to prepare each worker for
departure and integration in Canada
Communicate with Chisholm to report on activities, potential problems,
integration issues etc
Organize workshops with the families to make sure they are well informed
and supportive of their relatives working in Canada
Support for Chisholm’s guarantee to employers
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Chisholm Guarantee
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Used since inception to give employers comfort with the
Program
Chisholm charges employer $500 to $1000 per worker
Guarantee is that worker will not quit or be fired within first 6
months (probation period)
Refund is entire cost (or replacement)=
IOM fees + airfare+ Chisholm fee = $3000-$4000 per worker
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Chisholm cannot afford a 10% failure rate, let alone 25%
As importantly, Employers do not want disruption and lost
investment
Normally, our foreign recruitment partners share in the guarantee
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Experience with Mauritians
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Lack of commitment, motivation causes many
workers to return home
High risk for Chisholm
Not financially viable
Housing Issues
Pressure from family to return
Some cultural challenges
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What is the Win Win?
For Employers
 Stable, reliable, labour to fill labour shortages and
reduced employee turnover, for full 2 year
contract or more
For Employees
 Financial Advantage-Higher Earnings (possible to
save around USD $7,000 per year)
 Valuable work experience abroad
 Possible stepping stone to Permanent Residency
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Required for Success
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Strong Financial Motivation by Workers
Careful Screening
Full and Complete understanding of program,
pay, rent, tax deductions, expectations
Family Support for participation
Unquestionable commitment to fulfill 2 year
contract
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Process Steps
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Establishing candidates’ qualifications as overseas contract worker
(age, education, experience, civil status, personal characteristics)
Pre-selection process (orientation/introduction workshop, psychological
testing, English/French testing, pre-medical and interviews)
Verification of documents and background investigation (school
records, employment certificates, criminal record)
Interview with employer
Processing of selected applicants at Canadian Embassy
CIC Medical
Pre-departure Seminar
Travel Arrangements
Follow-up/Monitor performance of workers
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Labour Shortages/Opportunities in Canada
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We expect to hire around 100 workers in Quebec
in the next 24 months
Actual numbers will depend on news of success
spreading
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Questions
&
Answers
Halyna Mohylova and Yuliya Balina
[email protected]
[email protected]
This presentation can be found at:
www.rachisholm.com
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