Document Details

2007-05-25

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

1

The IOM office in Colombia and Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) of Canada have completed the selection process for 172 Colombians who will soon travel to Manitoba to work in one of the Company's food processing plants.
The labour migration programme, implemented by IOM and MLF, called for the workers to be selected in three weeks time in order for them to be ready to travel to Canada in three groups starting the month of August.

IOM and MLF worked closely with the Canadian Embassy in Bogota, the Colombian Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (National Learning Service) and three Mayors' Offices to complete the recruitment process in good time.

Maple Leaf Foods processes and markets processed meats and meals. It employs 25,000 workers in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Due to the lack of manual labour in Canada, MLF has recruited workers from countries such as El Salvador, Ukraine, Germany and China.

In addition to coordinating pre-selection and selection activities, IOM's work included hiring qualified personnel to perform medical examinations and to evaluate the candidates' skills, as well as making arrangements for 120-hour English classes, which the selected workers must take before travelling to Canada. IOM also will provide support in obtaining travel documents and visas, travel arrangements and accompany the migrants to Canada.

The candidates selected are males aged between 22 and 35 years, in good health, and with previous experience in food handling.

Other benefit to be provided by MLF to the selected workers will be medical insurance, housing for the first month, the opportunity for family reunification after completing eight months of employment, and the possibility of obtaining permanent residence.

MLF is considering working with other IOM Missions to recruit personnel in other countries.

• http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2007/pbn-listing/colombians-to-work-in-canadian-food-indu.html

Maple Leaf Foods (MLF), labour migration program, IOM

Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing

Colombia and National relevance

English