List of ‘accelerated’ TFW approvals reveals widespread abuse of program

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Edmonton, April 9 – A list of fast-tracked temporary foreign worker applications shows that scandals at Royal Bank and HD Mining are just the tip of the iceberg.

The document, obtained by the Alberta Federation of Labour through an Access to Information request, lists all approved TFW applications in the first eight months of the new Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (ALMO) process.

Between April 25 and December 18, 2012, more than 2,400 ALMO guest-worker permits – which are supposed to be reserved for highly-skilled employment – have been granted to fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations.

“You look down this list, and it’s McDonalds, Tim Hortons, A&W, Subway Sandwiches. Are we supposed to believe that these are ‘high-skill’ employment opportunities?” Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. “These applications have been rubberstamped in as little as ten days, and the vast majority aren’t subjected to any kind of review.”

http://www.afl.org/index.php/Press-Release/list-of-accelerated-tfw-approvals-reveals-widespread-abuse-of-program.html

The full document (PDF, 90+ page list of companies) can be found at: http://www.afl.org/index.php/Reports/foip-a-2012-00448-ssalmos-under-the-tfw-program2013feb04.html

[arikara]

1. My credit union is on that list.

Coast Capital. Appalling. I'm sure going to ask them about it.

[Coast Capital]

2. Coast Capital Savings response

From time to time we still get questions about this issue and wanted to provide some clarity.

Providing and preserving local employment is an important element in fostering a strong and healthy local economy – something Coast Capital remains dedicated to as part of our commitment to our members and the communities we serve.

It would only be in extraordinary circumstances where Coast Capital is unable to recruit qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents for a job that we would turn to recruiting the help of temporary foreign workers. Coast Capital has participated in the Higher-skilled Occupations stream (and the formerly the IT Workers Visa) of the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program over the years to hire 8 professional individuals with very specialized skill sets - knowledge Coast Capital could not find readily in Canada following an exhaustive search, and knowledge it did not have in-house in order to train a Canadian to do the temporary assignments. Today, we currently employ just one individual, who was recruited for their expertise under the Higher-skilled Occupation category.

Coast Capital’s hiring is done in full compliance with Canadian law and within the intent of the TFW program. As required by the TFW program under the Higher-skilled Occupations stream, these professionals received comparable salaries to that of a Canadian employee with the same education, knowledge and skills, and performing the same type of work.

Coast Capital stands by its commitment to provide and preserve local employment, and at no time were any Coast Capital staff displaced in the hiring of a temporary foreign worker. When we have utilized the Higher-skills Occupation stream of the TFW program, it was for the intent it was developed – to bring new skills and knowledge to Canada to share with local citizens and in turn help the country's economy grow. In fact, many of Coast Capital’s employees gained greater knowledge and skills as a result of having the opportunity to work with these experts.

Coast Capital Savings is one of the largest employers of residents in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Our 1,600 employees are also are members & owners, each living in the communities they serve whether that is Chilliwack, Nanaimo, Surrey, Victoria or a community in between. Two of our core values as an organization – we live to make our communities stronger; and we make spirited teamwork happen – depend on it being an employer that hires individuals locally who understand the needs of its members and the community.

We urge anyone with remaining concerns to contact us directly.

[laundry_queen]

3. Well that was disheartening/disgusting/shocking.

Pretty much every restaurant in my area is on that list. There are places on that list that *I* worked at as a teen. My teen daughters have applied to a few of those places on the list without so much as a call back. They both have had jobs before, and have excellent references. I feel pretty disgusted. My older daughter finally got a job through a friend, but my younger daughter can't get a call back from anyone. She babysits instead, but would really like a steady job.

I'm sure my daughters and their friends are not the only young people who are having a tough time getting jobs. My ex and I started working quite young...he was 12, I was 14. It was how we got experience. Everyone our age worked. We worked our butts off for many years and moved up in each new job. As was mentioned in the comments of the article...if young people aren't getting the experience, and they have large gaps between jobs, they become 'red flagged' in the future and find it harder to find meaningful jobs as they get older. Changing our economy in this fashion will have long term consequences...none of them good.

I'd also like to point out that some of these businesses that cry about being unable to make it without TFW are full of shit. Usually, the owners of these fast food franchises, for instance, make quite a bit of money...they pay themselves well. They hire TFW to reduce their turnover costs so they can pay themselves even more. It has nothing to do with not being able to find workers - it has to do with the owner being greedy. As was pointed out in another thread, TFW often are forced into apartments owned by the same people who own franchises - so they make money on the apartments AND on the TFW....the TFW's apprehension to speak up enables the franchise owner to continue pulling that extra money in for themselves, from rent and from low turnover costs.

I can understand if a corporation truly cannot find someone with high end skills...they may want a TFW...but what about getting a permanent immigrant instead? How about training current employees? Whatever happened to helping employees climb the ladder? Long term, they are likely better off. Too bad most companies are so focused on the short term gains - to their own detriment.

[thecytron]

4. A very disturbing trend, to say the least!!!

For the sake of clarity, I have to ask a question on this subject.

Are the enigmatic practices of the TFW program acceptable, by most Canadians, only when they help filling the unwanted jobs in this country?

Every year, bus-load of Mexican workers fill the Agricultural Fields of Southern Ontario. Their stories are as sad as they come! Yet, no one cares about the atrocities these TFW workers most endured, during the short time they are allowed to stay in this country.

I do agree with you about the need of a complete overall of the TFW program.

Perhaps, it's not for the same reason that you seem to have!

Nonetheless, no matter how you choose to slice it, it's the TFW, who is at the wrong end of the stick.