BCHA is leading workforce recovery efforts, cultivating strategic partnerships and resources to help employers access international and
domestic workers, upskill and retain staff, and to understand best practices in recruiting – saving you time and money
Today’s labour recruitment market is incredibly competitive, and navigating international and domestic recruitment options can be both confusing and challenging. But don’t fret; there is help available!
Meet Alison Langford, BCHA’s Workforce Strategist and dedicated expert in international and domestic recruitment. All BCHA members are eligible for a complimentary recruiting consultation with Alison. During your one-on-one session, Alison will review your workforce needs and discuss options available to support your hiring efforts.
Should you be struggling with where to start with your recruiting efforts or simply want to learn more about this complex space, book your session with Alison today. Contact | alison@bcha.com.
Learn more about Alison.
While there are many recruitment programs and resources for employers, not all will be suited to your business. The BCHA has carefully vetted and established partnerships that will support the best interests of BC accommodators and their employees.
Explore recruitment avenues below | questions? Contact alison langford alison@bcha.Com
There are 3 streams available when applying for a LMIA:
RECENT CHANGES TO LMIA PROGRAM | AS OF SPRING 2022
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
TALENT BEYOND BOUNDARIES
The BCHA has partnered with the team at Talent Beyond Boundaries. TBB matches skilled refugees with companies in need of their skills, helping employers gain valuable talent and supporting displaced people to rebuild their careers and lives.
In addition, the BCHA is currently working closely with the provincial government to advocate for changes to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to create a new pathway for refugees to gain permanent residency in Canada.
RECENT CHANGES TO TBB PROGRAM | AS OF JUNE 2023- New Federal Pathways stream:
Highlights of the Federal Pathway:
Given the highlights mentioned above, while we will still have access to existing pathways (including PNP), our approach will be to use Federal Pathways in most cases.
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) was created to help skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs to support Canadian labour market needs.
The following requirements must be met to qualify:
HIRES, a unique new employment-linked sponsorship pathway in collaboration with BC’s hospitality sector.
This new initiative, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, builds on WUSC’s long-standing Student Refugee Program model and looks to further expand access to economic opportunities for refugee youth and enhance their economic integration into the Canadian labour market.
Through HIRES, Canadian workplaces and business leaders are taking action to respond to the global refugee crisis through newcomer employment and leveraging community sponsorships. HIRES offers a responsive approach to help rebuild our economy while also supporting Canadian employers to rebuild inclusively, by integrating diverse employment-ready talent into their workplace.
Participants complete a month long hospitality management education program at Camosun College before joining their new workplaces with BC Hotels.
About WUSC: WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we foster youth-centred solutions for education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion in over 25 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Our flagship program, the Student Refugee Program, has been providing Canadian post-secondary education and resettlement opportunities to young refugees for over 40 years.
Contact: Eliza Seaborn eseaborn@wusc.ca
International Experience Canada provides the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to two years. There are three separate streams available that include Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (internship). Canada has an agreement with 38 visa-exempt countries, so citizens of those countries have a streamlined process to be eligible to work in Canada.
The most utilized of these streams is the Working-holiday permit, which is particularly popular among younger adults. This permit, allows workers to freely work and travel in Canada. Permits are typically issued for one year, but some countries allow for more than one opportunity to participate if the person reapplies under a different stream.
Application submissions are most often handled by the worker, but some may choose to work with Recognized Organizations (ROs) to assist with their applications—an example of such an organization is the Students Work Abroad Program (SWAP).
Unlike the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, job seekers are not required to remain with a single employer for the duration of their permit, and as a result, these programs are often very popular among those seeking seasonal workers.
The Francophone Mobility Program is an initiative of the Government of Canada which facilitates work permits for skilled Francophone foreign nationals. As the program’s aim is to encourage growth of French-speaking workers across Canada, candidates must be French-speaking, although it doesn’t have to be their primary language.
Recent changes to the program now allow job offers to all positions in any Tier – 0-5. This means positions such as light duty cleaners, front desk clerks, kitchen helpers are now eligible as well as skilled positions such as housekeeping supervisors, food service supervisors, cooks, etc. Permits are valid for up to three years and employers are required to submit an online offer of employment, paying a $230 fee.
The BCHA has participated in the Destination Canada Mobility Forum for the past two years. Look for an announcement this fall 2024 for more details on how to participate in this event. We also partner with Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB) for year-round support of hiring French-speaking workers.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows international students who have recently graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions to obtain an open work permit in Canada. The duration of each permit depends on the length of the graduate’s studies.
The PGWPP is often a pathway to permanent residency, leading to opportunities for long-term employment, and as the student is responsible for applying, there are no added costs to the employer.
Similar to the PGWPP program, employers may also wish to explore recruitment efforts with international students looking to secure employment. From January 1, 2024 to April 30, 2024, students can work more than 20 hours per week off campus. Employing international students may also lead to longer employment once the employee is finished school.
The Skilled Worker category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation to gain permanent residence in BC.
BC PNP may issue targeted invitations to apply for select occupations. These targeted occupations are Childcare, Healthcare, Veterinary Care, Construction sector, and Technology sector.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HIRING INTERNATIONAL WORKERS (NEW):
IRCC outreach team who are available to assist employers navigating IRCC programs:
Bibiana Au – Outreach Officer
Telephone: 343-549-3722
Email: promotions@cic.gic.ca
Janet Fan
Telephone: 604-353-2488
Email: janet.fan@cic.gc.ca
Darcy Bromley
Telephone: 604-315-7672
Email: darcy.bromley@cic.gc.ca
Here is a link to additional resources:
Employer’s Roadmap to hiring and retaining internationally trained workers
International Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) contain provisions to facilitate, on a reciprocal basis, temporary entry for businesspersons to work within Canada—an example of this is the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. Eligible persons entering under an FTA will generally require a work permit and there is a $230 fee that is paid by the employer. While FTAs provide a streamlined employment for foreign workers, eligible occupation categories can often be limited and frequently change.
In an effort to grow interest in the hospitality sector and support upskilling and training the BCHA has partnered with Western Community College (WCC) and Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS), to offer the Hotel Operation Services Skills Training project, which provides fully funded training to unemployed and underemployed individuals from the Metro Vancouver area. The project targets individuals with some industry experience and focuses on readying candidates for meaningful work in the industry with the opportunity for students to connect directly with our members following the completion of the program.
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