business and industry
Local labour market opens its doors to the world
By MEGAN LACELLE R
obert Burkart didn't know what he was going to do when two of his five person staff had reached retirement age. With over 50 years of combined custom upholstery experience, the pairs departure would leave Burkart in a tough position.
"It's one of those dying trades, we're getting to an age where we don't reproduce locally. I needed to replace my two older fellows before I could start training locally," Burkart says. He has been with Sewline Upholstery for 24 years, but has 35 years of experience in the business. It was then that Burkart discovered a new resource to draw from, temporary foreign workers.
Sewline required level B foreign workers, meaning they were skilled and technical.
"Most are just ethical employers hoping to keep their business open," says Shila Sharps, owner of Sharp Immigration and president of HR Solutions. She says she won't give the job to a foreign worker if there is a Canadian who can fill the position.
"The first questions I ask an employer is 'why'?" Sharps advertises and interviews potential candidates and then creates a labour market opinion (LMO). An LMO is an application saying the employer cannot find a Canadian worker, but requires a skilled labourer from another country to fill the position. It deals with wages, hours, conditions and skill-level to name a few categories. This LMO is sent to Service Canada where it is approved or not. One error on the LMO can mean a longer wait to get a TFW into Canada and working.
Sharps doesn't interview foreign workers like she would
Canadian workers. She requires the prospective workers show her their talents via Skype. She also sees their English proficiency and their body language.
"It's important who you pick. It's about balance and community. It's about the right fit not just competency."
Burkart has been more than happy with workers, Stephen Webber, from Jamaica, and Wayne Ramsier from England.
The pair has over 40 years of experience and both had planned on staying in Canada.
Webber, who has 20 years of experience in custom upholstery, arrived in June 2012, but had visited the country a couple time before. In his 40s, Webber says he moved here for a change of scenery. Whereas Ramsier, age 35, has 18 years experience, chose Canada because of his family and friends.
Robert Burkart, owner of Sewline Upholstery watches custom upholsterer Wayne Ramsier work at his business. Ramsier, who is from the United Kingdom, is one of two temporary foreign workers employed at Sewline.
LEAH TURNER, DVM BOB HERMAN, DVM CHERYL CANT, DVM KENDRA KREMENIUK, DVM LAYNE MANSON,DVM MEGAN HERMAN, DVM
phone 403-527-4888 fax 403-527-2060
www.amcsouth.ca email
amcsouth@gmail.com 59 East 3rd Avenue Dunmore, AB T1B 0L2
LOCATED JUST EAST OF CO-OP GAS STATION IN DUNMORE 38 2014 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA
Temporary foreign worker, Richard Wood, a tile installer with 17 years experience, moved to Medicine Hat from Yelm, Washington to work at Design Flooring Centre.
41149803•03/25/14
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