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Canada Geared To Adopt More Flexible Approach to Lure Skilled Workers
Posted on : 25 Feb, 2011
As per the recent reports released by CIC, Immigration Minister of Canada, Jason
Kenney confirmed that last year Canada touched record figures in admitting the highest
number of immigrants. Immigrants to the tune of 280,600 attained Permanent Residency
and this figure is the highest in the country since the last 57 years.
Though the initiative of 38 POL started in the year 2008 and the current 29 POL
has also fared well for the Canadian authorities, but CIC is all set to change the
“points grid” of the immigrant selection system so that newcomers whose job skills
are in demand in Canada, but don’t have university degrees or language proficiency
can enter the Maple country.
The main criteria that are being considered and are subject to change are-
- Requiring a minimum level of language proficiency
- Making the program more accessible to skilled tradespeople
- Redirecting points from work experience to other factors.
As per the current system, atleast 67 points must be earned by a skilled immigrant
applicant for the federal skilled worker program. The application is assessed based
on education levels, language skills and work experience among other factors.
However, as per the proposed changes, the primary aim is to select the people who
are most likely to succeed and give them the tools to succeed once they reach Canada.
Confirming the development, Kenney said, “We need to be more flexible . . . skilled
trades people who don’t have university degrees or who have very limited English
or French language proficiency typically cannot make it through the points grid,
but we have a huge and growing need for such skilled trade people.”
Ways are being assessed to accommodate the Foreign Skilled Workers for whom the
biggest barrier to employment is limited language proficiency. Thus, a minimum level
of language proficiency is being considered for such Skilled Tradespeople.
Other factors like laying more emphasis on younger workers and countering the potential
for fraudulent job offers are also a part of the strategy.
As per the changes, the younger the worker, the more points he can earn on the qualifying
grid, thus giving him an edge over the aged applicants.
Appreciating the proposed changes, Col BS Sandhu, CMD, WWICS Group said, the new
changes would accommodate Skilled Workers who do not have University degrees and
are not equipped with full language proficiency to qualify under the Federal Skilled
Program. By this way more potential workers would reach Canada and is a step in
the right direction.”
He added that all the applicants falling under the 29 POL should act fast and apply
under the fast track immigration as the current POL is only valid till June 2011.
A fresh list of Priority Occupations would make way in July 2011 and the occupations
presently on POL may not fall in the Priority list then.