THREE more Guadalcanal people have been added to the Canadian workforce after Canadian Immigration and Border Services officers granted 3 Guadalcanal residents work permit when they arrived in Canada.
Also to the surprise of the 3 workers they were informed at the Port of Entry by the Immigration Counsel Deborah Silvester, that as part of Canadian Labour Law all 3 workers have had their salary increased from the agreed amount of Canadian $10.85 to $11.35 as a new Canadian Provincial salary regulation came into effect a few days after they signed their employment contract.
“I am pleased to inform you that all three of you will see an increase in your salary from the agreed amount of $10.85 to $11.35. I am hoping you don’t mind the salary increase,” Ms. Silvester informed the three workers.
Baddley Sepo, Jonathan Benosi, and Mclin Tiaro have been granted their work permit under the Agriculture Management Pilot project which is valid for 24 months with an option if any of the workers get promoted to the supervisor position they will be provided with an opportunity to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency.
This labour mobility opportunity to Guadalcanal Province are made possible through the partnership between Canadian International Training & Education Corp. (CITREC) and Provincial Government of Guadalcanal (GP).
This partnership has already seen two Guadalcanal CITREC graduates having received their nomination for Permanent Residency last month under the Canadian Government’s immigration nomination program. Two more applicants who are graduates of the GP-CITREC programs are under process for Permanent residency by Canadian officials.
“On an average since August of this year we have added 2 workers into Canadian workforce each month from the Province of Guadalcanal. We are proud of this achievement and we look forward having more recruitment of GP-CITREC graduates in the very near future,” CITREC Chairman Ashwant Dwivedi said.
“Welcome to Canada. We look forward to welcoming you to the Canadian workforce. I am sure all 3 of you will work with absolute honesty and dignity and in doing so you will make both Province of Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands proud,” Chairman Dwivedi told the newly arrived workers at the International arrival terminal on Sunday.
“Remember what you have been told before your departure to Canada. You are our brand ambassadors for this agriculture pilot project. Your commitment will be closely monitored and delivery goals will help open opportunities for many more GP-CITREC graduates,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
During a pre-departure event hosted by the Guadalcanal Government, Guadalcanal Premier Anthony Veke presented them their documents asked the students to make the province and the nation proud as well.
“Once again you not only represent your family and the province but Solomon Islands as well. We all trust that you will excel in the work you undertake. You will be responsible, hardworking and prove yourself as committed citizens,” Premier Veke said.
“This is an opportunity that has the scope of further increasing the numbers of workers to help contribute to Human resources in Canada’s agriculture, food processing and distribution sector and I want all three of you to prove yourself,” Premier Veke said.
“Take absolute pride and responsibility while you are in Canada. Take your responsibility seriously as you take upon this new challenge at your work place. Display our traditions and culture in Canada. Prove yourself beyond expectation,” Premier Veke told the three selected candidates.
In a statement Education Minister Lazarus Rina said that the three candidates who are travelling have been reminded that their performance will also open opportunities for many others who are Guadalcanal – CITREC graduates.
“You should count yourself lucky being selected by the employers in Canada. Be on your best behaviour and pave way for others to follow,” Minister Rina said.
“This opportunity will help you earn and learn at the same time. So go and work hard,” Minister Rina said.
Based on a Canadian Government document, the work permits for the agriculture workers are valid for 24 months and their airfares are all paid for by the employer.
Also their accommodation under the Agriculture Stream Program under Canadian law is just going to cost them $30 a week. The workers are also fully insured under the Canadian government’s Workplace law against any injury and the insurance is paid for at the expense of the Canadian employer. None of the costs’ apart from the cost of accommodation are deducted from the pay of the workers.
“This is great opportunity for the people of Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. Canada is one of the largest employer of workers into its agriculture sector and we are pleased to announce that through this pilot project Guadalcanal will help establish the much needed foundation that will help increase the workforce in the coming months and years,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
“Guadalcanal Province has been selected as the Province of Choice for the Agriculture-Canada pilot project that will open many opportunities for GP residents and Solomon Islands in the very near future. We are excited to further explore this opportunity with the Guadalcanal province and explore the opportunity to further open this opportunity to Citizens of the Solomon Islands,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
In an approval from Canada’s Federal government’s Human Resources Ministry, which validates employer – employee contracts to protect the rights of foreign workers coming into Canada, (3) persons who are residents of Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands under the pilot project have been offered the job in an approval received by Canadian government’s officials.
This opportunity of agriculture was made possible following a visit by Guadalcanal Premier Anthony Veke to Canada last year where he met with many farmers in Western Canada appealing for them to hire CITREC-GP graduates for their farms.
During his visit to British Columbia, Canada Premier Veke had meetings with the Canadian fruit growers Association members who had expressed keen interest to participate in the program once it had received the Canadian governments partnership approval.
During his address to the farm owners from various sectors Premier Veke appealed to the farm owners to consider hiring CITREC-GP Graduates.
CITREC in a statement said that the farm management partnership opportunity is great opportunity as it provides workers with continued training in many areas of farms which include and is not limited to managing supply chain of chickens, root crops and even machinery operations for dairies.
“This year in March we started our talks with relevant Canadian government authorities to draw up options to begin a pilot project. It was important that our selected students have the knowledge based on Canadian standard and we specified that the position could be made available by the employer as they will be in direct contact with food and diary products that will be “Ready to Eat” (RTE) under food safety regulation. We have strict guidelines for handling RTE products,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
Canadian government had indicated their full support to help us locate a suitable employer that would want to be part of the pilot project.
“ Based on that discussion a western Canadian farm owner {employer} who agreed to participate in the pilot-project was identified who went ahead in meeting the process and requirements established by the Canadian government’s various departments to be eligible to hire the 3 farm workers under the pilot project,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
Some of the other benefits of the contract include:
· The workers will be entitled to 10 days of paid vacation;
· All salary by the employer will be subject to Canadian tax deductions;
· Employees will benefit from all deductions of Canadian pension plan;
· 3 months of medical insurance are provided at the expense of the employer.
· The workers will receive full coverage of workplace safety insurance from the employer.
In August Guadalcanal province created history when two of their GP residents were handed their employment permit for Canada, which makes them the first ever, two Solomon Islanders to have been granted the permit under the Canadian government’s Immigration nomination program.
Ms. Amelia Muse and Mr. Careka Volly have been granted their work permits, which are valid for 24 months.
During this period they will have to apply to have their Canadian permanent residency processed. The nomination of the two is the first ever for Solomon Islands.
“The arrival of Ms. Muse and Mr. Volly into Canada marks a milestone achievement but also helps open the opportunity for many more Guadalcanal-CITREC graduates. Solomon Islands was never part of the nomination program and Canadian employers have never considered SI citizens as potential for Canadian employment. Today employers across provinces are talking about Solomon Islands and in particular Guadalcanal province as they are providing job ready graduates for their businesses.
“This opportunity could not have come at a better time where Canada’s tourism industry is booming and by mid next year it will be thirsty for more workers. We will work with Canadian employers across Canada asking them to hire CITREC-GP graduates,” Mr.Dwivedi said.
