Pearnel Charles (right), Minister of Labour and Social Security, addresses a press conference at his North Street office yesterday. Mr. Charles gave details of a Canadian Red Seal inter-provincial accreditation programme. Listening are Jeff Nugent (centre), director policy and research at the Industry Training Authority in British Columbia, and Lindsay Langill, another director at that company. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
JAMAICAN workers seeking employment in Canada are being encouraged to have themselves brought up to Red Seal standard, the highest certification for skilled workers in that country.
Training for the Red Seal will be conducted by the Industry Training Authority (ITA), a government agency based in British Columbia. Okanagan College, also located in that province, the HEART Trust/NTA and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are also involved in the joint initiative.
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles said approximately 572 Jamaican workers are expected to travel to Canada in the first quarter of 2008. Most of them are construction workers.
"When the Jamaican worker arrives in Canada, the Canadian authorities require a Red Seal certificate which puts them at the same standard as the American construction worker," Mr. Charles explained.
Skilled workers needed
Potential workers for Canadian programmes will be trained by the ITA, which reports directly to Canada's Ministry of Economic Development. Lindsay Langill of the ITA, who spoke at yesterday's function, said with Canada experiencing a shortage in skilled workers, companies there are always on the hunt overseas for workers.
He said getting the Red Seal, which has been around since 1952, is critical.
"Once a person is credited with the Red Seal, that certificate stays with them for life," he said.
Executive director of the HEART/NTA, Donald Foster, also spoke at the launch. He told The Gleaner that, of 107,000 persons enrolled in the organisation's programmes, 11,000 are involved in the construction industry.
In September, 11 Jamaican workers left for British Columbia to work in the construction sector.
