Filipino hospitality workers needed in Canada
19th April 2007
By Maria Theresa S. Samante (OFW Guide)
Canada is currently experiencing shortage in tourism and hospitality workers such as food servers and housekeeping workers. According to some reports, Canadian employers consider hiring Filipino workers to fill the vacancy.
For the 2007-08 season, Chemistry Consulting and Success Immigration has put up an office in Cebu, will be recruiting 300 Filipino.
The recruitment started in 2006 since then, they never stop seeking for Filipino workers to work in Vancouver Island’s west coast. They have different channel of advertisement locally and across the country but still there’s a shortage of 10 to 20 workers.
Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino Resort is expecting six Filipino workers in the coming weeks and this would be the start of a long-term program of recruitment of foreign workers. Qualified workers will stay in the resort’s worker living units.
According to Charles McDiarmid, managing director of Tofino’s up-market in Wickaninnish Inn, they will encourage Tofino grocers to stock Filipino food items and through creation of a network with other operators employing Filipinos to nurture a “community atmosphere.�
Wickaninnish Inn is set to pay Chemistry Consulting and Success Immigration $2,500 per worker. This includes: $500 per worker payable at the beginning of recruitment agreement; $1,000 per worker payable on the date of issuance of the work visa; $1,000 per worker payable on the date the worker arrives in Canada.
Expenses include return airfare of up to $2,000; local health-care expenses of $54 per month per worker; and a visa fee of $150. Filipino applicants who will qualify in the position will pay $55 administration fee to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA); medical check-up fees; the amount of NBI certificate valid to travel abroad and, cost of an international driver’s license if they want to drive while in Canada, and other living cost during their stay in the country.
According to the spokesperson for British Columbia and Yukon Hotel Association (BCYHA), Ashley Haslett, Filipino workers like room attendants, housekeeping and cleaning staff are also expected to come in to Whistler and the Okanagan this year.