We have fantastic news that will greatly benefit your recruitment efforts during the ongoing workforce crisis. The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) has successfully advocated for significant changes to the Francophone Mobility Program, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share them with you. Let’s break it down in simple terms:
What’s Changed:
The Francophone Mobility Program has been expanded for a two-year period , creating new opportunities for Canadian employers like you. This program, which was initially designed for highly skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers, now opens doors for more French-speaking immigrants. It offers them the chance to gain valuable Canadian work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence.
Now, you have the opportunity to hire eligible candidates with a moderate command of French across various National Occupation Classifications, except for primary agriculture. Previously, the program was limited to skilled positions (TEER 1, 2, and 3), such as cooks, housekeeping supervisors, and food service supervisors. However, the program’s expansion now includes positions in TEER 4 and 5 categories, such as light duty cleaners, launderers, servers, and kitchen helpers. This program is LMIA exempt which means employers do not need to go through the LMIA process.
BCHA attended the Francophone Mobility Job Forum last year in France and Morocco to utilize this program. The Job Forum will take place in 2023 and we anticipate participating again.
Who Can be Hired Through the Program?
To participate in the program, candidates must demonstrate their French language proficiency by completing a language test. We are thrilled to inform you that the eligibility criteria have been revised, making it easier for candidates to qualify. Previously, a score of 7 on the French test was required, but now a score of 5 is sufficient.
Candidates have several acceptable options for proving their language proficiency. They can present a French evaluation test or the French competencies test, a diploma or degree from a French college or university, or a document confirming their studies at a French-language institution.
Next Steps:
The BCHA’s and HAC’s dedicated advocacy efforts have led to these positive changes, aiming to provide you, as employers, with additional recruitment streams to alleviate the current workforce crisis. We firmly believe that these adjustments will empower you to access a broader pool of highly qualified French-speaking candidates, enabling you to meet your staffing needs more effectively.
If you have any questions or need assistance in navigating the Francophone Mobility Program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Workforce Strategist, Alison Langford at alison@bcha.com
This advocacy win directly addresses the challenges you face, and we are excited to witness the positive impact it will have on your operations. Together, we can create a more resilient and diverse workforce for the BC hotel industry.