Program will help Saskatchewan businesses facing skilled labour shortages
For Saskatchewan employers struggling to hire people skilled in the mechanical trades, relief will soon be on the way. A new pilot project, announced by the federal government, will help foreign-trained tradespeople get their credentials recognized before immigrating to Saskatchewan.
"It will benefit immigrants as well as employers who are struggling with skilled labour shortages, and be good for the Saskatchewan economy," said Lynne Yelich, parliamentary secretary to the minister of human resources and social development.
The federal government will invest $3 million for the Foreign Credential Recognition Support for Labour Market Needs in Saskatchewan project.
The program will allow the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology's (SIAST) to establish a system for verifying that credentials and job experience obtained abroad are equal to established Canadian standards. Immigrants will be able to obtain their certification before coming to Canada.
The project will be piloted in Saskatchewan and target prospective immigrants from the Ukraine, the Philippines and Vietnam with skills and experience in the mechanical trades (welding, heavy duty equipment, and agricultural machinery).
"With funding from the government of Canada, this program will allow SIAST to help employers meet high-demand labour needs through the recruitment of qualified foreign workers," said Robert McCulloch, president and CEO of SIAST. "The program leverages our expertise in credential assessment and our international partnerships in support of Saskatchewan's immigration goals."
"It will benefit immigrants as well as employers who are struggling with skilled labour shortages, and be good for the Saskatchewan economy," said Lynne Yelich, parliamentary secretary to the minister of human resources and social development.
The federal government will invest $3 million for the Foreign Credential Recognition Support for Labour Market Needs in Saskatchewan project.
The program will allow the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology's (SIAST) to establish a system for verifying that credentials and job experience obtained abroad are equal to established Canadian standards. Immigrants will be able to obtain their certification before coming to Canada.
The project will be piloted in Saskatchewan and target prospective immigrants from the Ukraine, the Philippines and Vietnam with skills and experience in the mechanical trades (welding, heavy duty equipment, and agricultural machinery).
"With funding from the government of Canada, this program will allow SIAST to help employers meet high-demand labour needs through the recruitment of qualified foreign workers," said Robert McCulloch, president and CEO of SIAST. "The program leverages our expertise in credential assessment and our international partnerships in support of Saskatchewan's immigration goals."
