Bad news for TFW under food service processing their LMO

[mdeleon]

Hi,
My employer said she had a newly arrived server ,to be exact she just arrived yesterday, but got the permit, the immigration just call her to confirm some details.
My flight is on may12 so im hopefull that everything will be fine when im arrive.
Thanks.

hi mcbuang;

thank you for sharing this please don't forget to post your experience as well when you arrive to canada. Best of luck. thank you

 

[angel_25]

@mcbuang

Good luck to your flight and please keep in touch. God bless

 

[angel_25]

mcbuang are you also in alberta.

 

[Maling]

Hi! My brother is about to get his visa approval this month from UAE Canada visa office. Under food counter service position.
If approved, does anybody knows if he can still enter canada or do we have to wait until the morotarium is lifted?

hi aquablue, if I may ask, when did your brother applied in UAE Canada visa office? I had also applied but till now I did not get any feedback from them...

 

[kafka khaos]

But this action was triggered by non conservative supporters who claimed the Conservatives and Harper were "anti-Canadian" and letting businesses favor foreigners who want to "steal jobs from good local Canadians". Goes to show that all sides of the political spectrum are iffy on immigration these days.

Nonsense. The current TFW program is a disaster for migrants as well as Canadians. TFW are regularily exploited and taken advantage of. They are routinely paids less than promised, not paid overtime, bullied and threatened by employers, forced to pay unfair rents for accomodations, forced to pay for their own flights to Canada, forced to pay for their own recruiters/snakeheads, etc Just from the foreign worker perspective alone the program is in shambles.

And then add to that how the program is affecting Canadians. It is driving down wages, driving up unemployment, and Canadians are being fired en mass and replaced by TFW.

The system isn't working for anyone except business. And the Harper goverment has finally been exposed. The government truely has no intention of fixing anything, but they need to appear to be fixing it, because an election is looming on the horizon. So we will see what happens. If the public spotlight dims on this story, the Conservatives will quickly reinstate the entire program as-is with no meaningful changes. If the spotlight stays on them, they may be forced to address a few of the avenues for abuse.

For TFW sake i hope the governmment is forced by the Canadian public to reduced the amount of abuse and exploitation.

 

[fkl]

This is exactly the feedback i was afraid of. Please don't generalize. TFW program might be misused for low skilled jobs. But a lot of PhD's, engineers, managers and other highly skilled professionals come through this program as well. None of them has any of these issues. Very well paid, exemplary employers, paid for relocation etc.

And none of those has any impact on Canadian jobs because 100% of these positions are filled for skills for which there are simply no qualified Canadians - period.

Update: Rather, this helps businesses to stay competitive and grow which also results in many jobs for locals at the same time. Good employers like mine, list requirements in job specs and make it clear while recruiting, WHICH positions need foreigners which is also evident in skill set. They thoroughly fulfill CIC requirements too since the specialized positions are posted on websites even for a year or more. That is probably one of the reasons we still get LMO's quite easily and quickly because we only apply when practically needed.

Nonsense. The current TFW program is a disaster for migrants as well as Canadians. TFW are regularily exploited and taken advantage of. They are routinely paids less than promised, not paid overtime, bullied and threatened by employers, forced to pay unfair rents for accomodations, forced to pay for their own flights to Canada, forced to pay for their own recruiters/snakeheads, etc Just from the foreign worker perspective alone the program is in shambles.

And then add to that how the program is affecting Canadians. It is driving down wages, driving up unemployment, and Canadians are being fired en mass and replaced by TFW.

The system isn't working for anyone except business. And the Harper goverment has finally been exposed. The government truely has no intention of fixing anything, but they need to appear to be fixing it, because an election is looming on the horizon. So we will see what happens. If the public spotlight dims on this story, the Conservatives will quickly reinstate the entire program as-is with no meaningful changes. If the spotlight stays on them, they may be forced to address a few of the avenues for abuse.

For TFW sake i hope the governmment is forced by the Canadian public to reduced the amount of abuse and exploitation.

 

[kafka khaos]

For the Canadians who rant about themselves being jobless and TFW taking away there jobs, trying to make it look like low wages is the only reason, it's not. They should go out more and work harder on their own capabilities.

It's statements like this that makes Canadians want to scrap the whole program. We are a country of only 35 million people. We can not possibly support every worker from every 3rd world country. If these 3rd world workers are so fantastic, then why don't they fix up their own countries?

The fact of the matter is, the TFW program is displacing Canadian workers, driving down wages of Canadians, and driving up unemployment. It isn't making Canada better, its turning Canada into the 3rd world. Canadians are RIGHT to want to stop that from happening.

Royal Bank fired 45 Canadians and switched to TFW. http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/after-backlash-rbc-pledges-to-not-send-work-offshore-just-to-cut-costs-1.1295268

65 Ironworkers in Fort mac were fired and replaced by TFW. http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/02/06/sixty-five-employees-replaced-with-tfws-alberta-federation-of-labour (there were reports they would be rehired but to-date they have not been re-hired)


Hundreds of miners is BC were denied jobs and TFW brought in instead. http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/10/30/BC-Chinese-Miners/


These are not crap jobs. These are solid middle class jobs that Canadians should have a chance at. Canadians are RIGHT to stop the downward pressure on wages and RIGHT to stop the attack on our middle class.


The sad part is, these migrant workers dont even know that we are fighting for their benefit too. What good is leaving the 3rd world for Canadam if Canada has just become the 3rd world? These migrants just want jobs now. Canadians on the otherhand, want jobs now AND in the future AND for their children AND their children's children. Because Canadians care about Canada and want Canada to succeed now AND in the future. These migrants don't. They want to use Canada now, and when Canada becomes a crappy place to work, they will go someplace else.

 

[kafka khaos]

And none of those has any impact on Canadian jobs because 100% of these positions are filled for skills for which there are simply no qualified Canadians - period.

not true. the TFW drives up unemployment. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/temporary-foreign-worker-program-linked-to-joblessness-report-1.2620551

Update: Rather, this helps businesses to stay competitive and grow which also results in many jobs for locals at the same time. Good employers like mine, list requirements in job specs and make it clear while recruiting, WHICH positions need foreigners which is also evident in skill set. They thoroughly fulfill CIC requirements too since the specialized positions are posted on websites even for a year or more. That is probably one of the reasons we still get LMO's quite easily and quickly because we only apply when practically needed.

Wrong. In the past Canadian firms spent time and money trianing Canadians to do the work. Or would hired unexperienced Canadians oput of university and give them entry level position where they gain experience.

Now, it is EASIER and CHEAPER to simply hire a foreigner who is already trained and already experienced. This is good for the business's profits, and good for the foreigner, but a disaster for Canada and Canadians.

Company's should only be allowed to hire a TFW if they can tell the government exactly how they are going to train a Canadian and fill that position with a Canadian in short order.

 

[kuwahara]

Yes. I am a Food Counter Attendant
Where is your point of entry..Mine is Toronto. Everybody here in Canada told me i was luck because I enter from Toronto and not Vancouver. Im sorry guys but Im just trying to give you infos i heard here. They said it was true that there are Filipinos coming from Taiwan who didnt make it to the immigration and was sent back to Phil. But they said it was random....not everyone actually got rejected. I ask them if they have proof seeing it they said its in TV Patrol but I didt see any ...So guys just what I said keep up the faith. Wala pa nmn sa forum na eto na nahaharang diba. Sakin lng wag tayo panghinaan dahil sa nrrinig ntin na wala pa nmng proof...

Hi there, mind if I ask, did you get Work visa from Canadian embassy in your country before the LMO thing happened? is that how you could got work permit at Toronto airport?

 

[kuwahara]

Hello guys,

I got positive LMO (Food service supervisor) on March this year and was planning to apply for work permit next but this LMO thing happened and I feel life is unfair.

what I was going to do is exit Canada and re-enter from port of entry. (Niagara one)

I did LMO inside of Canada and I'm currently in Canada by visitor status, I know that I can't stay in this country for a long time by visitor visa and my LMO also has an expire date..

but from this forum it look like someone got work permit even its related on food service sector..is that because they got work visa from outside of Canada?

then can someone advice my situation or tell me anything about it?

Please I'm nervous everyday since end of April..

 

[keesio]

Now, it is EASIER and CHEAPER to simply hire a foreigner who is already trained and already experienced. This is good for the business's profits, and good for the foreigner, but a disaster for Canada and Canadians.

Company's should only be allowed to hire a TFW if they can tell the government exactly how they are going to train a Canadian and fill that position with a Canadian in short order.

Can you imagine if the USA decided to do the same thing? The tens of thousands of Canadians working in the US would be moaning about American protectionism. Remember American film industry workers calling Hollywood businesses sellouts for choosing to film in Canada instead of the US or allowing so many Canadians to work in Hollywood? And Canadians calling them crybabies?

 

[torontosm]

Can you imagine if the USA decided to do the same thing? The tens of thousands of Canadians working in the US would be moaning about American protectionism. Remember American film industry workers calling Hollywood businesses sellouts for choosing to film in Canada instead of the US or allowing so many Canadians to work in Hollywood? And Canadians calling them crybabies?

Ummm...the US does do the same thing already. Have you not seen the list of "permitted" occupations for Canadian and Mexican citizens seeking a TN visa (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/professions-that-qualify-canadians-mexicans-tn-visas.html)? Do you see "fast food worker" or "coffee pourer" on that list? And if it that hard for Canadians who are "protected" under NAFTA to get work visas for these low skilled jobs, imagine the difficulties other nationalities would face.

Americans are seeking only highly skilled professionals, so why shouldn't Canada be allowed to do the same?

 

[beholder69]

Ummm...the US does do the same thing already. Have you not seen the list of "permitted" occupations for Canadian and Mexican citizens seeking a TN visa (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/professions-that-qualify-canadians-mexicans-tn-visas.html)? Do you see "fast food worker" or "coffee pourer" on that list? And if it that hard for Canadians who are "protected" under NAFTA to get work visas for these low skilled jobs, imagine the difficulties other nationalities would face.

Americans are seeking only highly skilled professionals, so why shouldn't Canada be allowed to do the same?

US has 10 times the population of Canada, despite being a smaller country. Such shortages have already been covered over there. You can't talk about saturation in such a scarcely populated country as Canada with such a growth rate. People can keep joining the forum, parroting the same propaganda over and over in their first posts. That won't change the fact above.

Also people keep describing a different reality than the one I'm experiencing where I am. So if things are indeed *that* different between provinces, then let the provinces decide on their own what kind of workers they need and for which positions. Right now most of the provincial programs have been incapacitated due to inability of issuing LMOs in the food services sector. If a provincial government decides they need lower skilled workers there, then let them give their own work permits. If they don't need any, they close the program, simple as.

 

[torontosm]

US has 10 times the population of Canada, despite being a smaller country. Such shortages have already been covered over there. You can't talk about saturation in such a scarcely populated country as Canada with such a growth rate. People can keep joining the forum, parroting the same propaganda over and over in their first posts. That won't change the fact above.

Also people keep describing a different reality than the one I'm experiencing where I am. So if things are indeed *that* different between provinces, then let the provinces decide on their own what kind of workers they need and for which positions. Right now most of the provincial programs have been incapacitated due to inability of issuing LMOs in the food services sector. If a provincial government decides they need lower skilled workers there, then let them give their own work permits. If they don't need any, they close the program, simple as.

There is plenty of saturation in Canada. Have you ever visited Toronto, for example? Do we really need to import unskilled workers when the unemployment rate is so high?

How about this? Cancel the TFW program for unskilled workers permanently, and let restaurants and fast food chains pay what they need to to attract talent from within Canada. If they can't afford to, let them shut down. I doubt anyone will miss having a Mcdonalds down the street. But, I assure you that given the profits that most of these chains (Tim Hortons, Mcdonalds, Burger King, etc.) make, they can afford to pay market wages and still profit handsomely.

Provinces do not have the right to determine immigration policy. Otherwise, what's to stop a TFW from going to NWT and the immediately moving to Toronto (as so many other provincial immigration nominees have done time and time again)? If you try to bind them to a single employer, people like you will jump up and down and call it "slavery" or a violation of Charter rights.

 

[beholder69]

There is plenty of saturation in Canada. Have you ever visited Toronto, for example? Do we really need to import unskilled workers when the unemployment rate is so high?

How about this? Cancel the TFW program for unskilled workers permanently, and let restaurants and fast food chains pay what they need to to attract talent from within Canada. If they can't afford to, let them shut down. I doubt anyone will miss having a Mcdonalds down the street. But, I assure you that given the profits that most of these chains (Tim Hortons, Mcdonalds, Burger King, etc.) make, they can afford to pay market wages and still profit handsomely.

Provinces do not have the right to determine immigration policy. Otherwise, what's to stop a TFW from going to NWT and the immediately moving to Toronto (as so many other provincial immigration nominees have done time and time again)? If you try to bind them to a single employer, people like you will jump up and down and call it "slavery" or a violation of Charter rights.

Actually: a) yes, I have visited Toronto but that doesn't add anything to the discussion since visiting and living there are probably very different things.

B) what do you mean "people like me"? I actually find the word "slavery" in this occasion to be outmost ridiculous. I won't expand as it won't be pleasant and again, it won't add anything to the discussion. So binding them to a single employer is more than fine in my book and I stick by the provincial idea.

As for the let them shut down part, you and most people might have McDonalds and Timmies in mind but you forget about the smaller businesses, from small chains to local small restaurants and other companies. It might not sound much to you to let them shut down but for me, coming from a country that was completely destroyed by austerity measures and closing companies (Greece), I can assure you it won't be fun for the economy of Canada. The country is in a growth phase (as it should be with such a population) and that means opening more business, not closing them. Canada doesn't have a high unemployment rate. Not even close. This is caused by flawed math and logic touted by the media. There is a baseline percentage in any country with people who are in welfare by choice, making the numbers rise, there is a very significant factor being new PRs etc who just came in and are looking for a job matching their qualifications, also raising the numbers and there are also people who just finished university/college etc and are looking for something on their field and with a good pay, not any survival job and until they find it, they are raising the numbers as well (see: youth unemployment).

That's the same in every country, it's not exclusive to Canada, but over here, due to the immigration rates, it's easier for those numbers to go up. They're still very far away from high. And as I said before, varies greatly from province to province.