Sunday, November 16, 2008

BC expands its provincial immigration program for semi-skilled occupations within the food processing industry

The provincial government of British Columbia (B.C.), in consultation with respective food, beverage and nutraceutical processing industry associations, has recently announced to expand its Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) to address labor challenges faced by the food processing industry in B.C.

The Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project category of BC-PNP’s Strategic Occupations component will now allow employers in the food processing industry to select qualifying foreign workers to be considered for provincial nomination that are currently working in B.C. in one of the following categories:

- Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing (NOC 9461);
- Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers (NOC 9462);
- Fish Plant Workers (NOC 9463);
- Testers and Graders, Food and Beverage Processing (NOC 9465);
- Laborers in Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing (NOC 9617);
- Laborers in Fish Processing (NOC 9618)

Foreign worker must have been employed in an eligible occupation by the sponsoring company on a temporary work permit for at least 9 months immediately prior to the date of application to the BC-PNP and must be legally employed by the sponsoring company at the time of application. For those who were not hired through Service Canada's (SC) Temporary Foreign Worker labor market confirmation (LMO), employers will need to submit official records of remuneration for the nine month period preceding their application.

The BC-PNP will not accept applications to nominate individuals who have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, or who are in Canada illegally, are under a removal order in Canada, or are prohibited from entering Canada.

To be approved, employers are required to meet the criteria of Service Canada. For example, they must offer wages within industry norms and demonstrate that they are unable to fill the positions locally. Employers must also submit a recruitment and settlement plan to the BC-PNP. Applicants must have completed formal education to a secondary level and have basic proficiency in English language.

The Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled category of BC-PNP’s Strategic Occupations component is a 2 year pilot project that was initially applicable to select occupations and eligible employers in the tourism/hospitality and long-haul trucking industries, and to qualifying foreign workers. It has now been expanded to include the food processing industry.

Food processing is B.C.'s second largest manufacturing sector, generating $6.7 billion annually and employing about 31,500 people.

The tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking industries were selected for this pilot project as they play a key role in B.C.’s export-oriented economy, and are experiencing acute and persistent labor shortages. After the evaluation of pilot project, based on a number of criteria and factors, additional allocations may be made available.

In addition to the Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project, the BC-PNP have specific categories for foreign skilled workers, international students, designated health professionals, and entrepreneurs.