'Processors are concerned that they will not be able to process enough lobsters to meet market demands as the world starts to recover from Covid-19'
Prince Edward Island has partnered with the PEI Seafood Processors Association to restructure the Team Seafood Program to connect jobseekers and students with seafood processing businesses that have openings in the province.
Those interested in working in a seafood processing plant can register with WorkPEI.
“These are difficult times for all of us and we are looking at every way we can to support industries as well as Islanders experiencing layoffs, as we navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Islanders want to work to support themselves and their families and lobster processing plants across P.E.I. are experiencing unprecedented labour shortages,” says Jamie Fox, minister of fisheries and communities. “Hopefully, islanders and students can fill these jobs so processors can continue to supply customers with P.E.I.’s quality lobster products.”
Seafood plants are facing many troubles, says Jerry Gavin, executive director of the PEI Seafood Processors Association.
“Every plant is short of workers and without an adequate workforce, we can’t process all the lobsters being caught in P.E.I. waters,” says Gavin. “Processors are concerned that they will not be able to process enough lobsters to meet market demands as the world starts to recover from COVID-19 and re-open the economy.”
Through the program, students returning to post-secondary studies in the fall of 2020 will also receive a $2,000 bursary and students returning to high school will receive a $1,000 bursary. The bursary amounts were doubled over last year to encourage more students work in the seafood sector.
In May, P.E.I. announced two programs for fish harvesters: The Prince Edward Island Fish Emergency Loan Program, which will provide loans up to $25,000 to harvesters, and the Interest Relief Program will give harvesters up to 12 months of interest relief and service debt costs on as much as $250 million.
Meanwhile, Quebec has launched a new online placement service to help provincial employers make their labour needs known and enable jobseekers to apply for jobs easily.
