Decision to bar eateries from Temporary Foreign Workers Program “concerning” for small businesses
Posted Apr 25, 2014 3:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Restaurant owners are disappointed with the news they can no longer use the program to fill jobs.
Employers across Canada have been handed a stern rebuke from federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney.
A moratorium has been slapped on the use of the Temporary Foreign Worker program for food service industries in the wake of several reported abuses.
Speaking in Vancouver, Kenney said he’s not planning similar holds on Temporary Foreign Worker programs in other industries, but that could change if more problems are found.
“I think this is a wakeup call to all employers, not just in that sector, that we expect them to not just abide by the letter, but also the spirit of the rules,” he said.
Kenney said all employers must invest more in training and are obliged to actively search for Canadian workers before hiring staff from other countries.
Mark Von Schellwitz, the Western Canada VP for Restaurants Canada, said he remembers the early 2000’s where labour shortages forced many small businesses to put up closed signs, and there are worries that could happen again.
He added they are prepared to cooperate with the government in their investigation.
“We expect our members to follow the rules 100 per cent and there are certainly processes in place to document proof to the government to say, look we need these Temporary Foreign Workers because we cannot find Canadians to work these certain shifts or any certain areas,” he said.
It’s not clear how long this moratorium will last, Schellwitz said there’s a real concern the longer this goes on for, it will impact businesses ability to operate full time, and keep Canadians employed.
