“The Phillipines is a very favorable place to hire welders”

By Alison@Creekside

Below is a video follow-up to my previous post on the government’s new “LabourMinister Missing in Action” program.

As it noted, two Philippine press agencies reported in January on the Canadian Welding Bureau pre-accrediting welders in three schools in the Philippines and quoted a now-retired Canadian Welding Bureau Certification Services Representative as touting welding and pipe fitting jobs for temporary workers from the Philippines “When construction for the pipeline from Alberta to BC begins.”

In light of the Canadian Welding Bureau’s disclaimer in April 2014 denying their involvement:

“For the record, the CWB is not in the business of recruiting welders, either from the Philippines or elsewhere, or involved in any job placement schemes, contracts or agreements to enter Canada.”

… I’m posting the video below — presumed origin of the Philippine news reports.

Transcript:

Thousands of jobs for welders are expected to open up in the country within the next two years.

“Thousands of jobs in the skilled trades were created in BC when the federal government gave the Vancouver Shipyards the $3.3billion contract to build ten new non-combat ships for the Canadian Coast Guard last year. This includes jobs in welding and pipe-fitting. Anticipating a possible shortage of qualified tradesmen, the Canadian Welding Bureau accredited test centres in the Philippines to screen well-trained welders.

“Bob Montes, Certification Services Representative, Canadian Welding Bureau, from Vancouver:

“‘The welders that we are training in Canada right now are not sufficient to fill that vacuum. That’s why the Canadian government is looking, looking at hiring temporary workers from outside, and right now, the Philippines is very favorable place to hire welders.’

“Montes adds that welders will also be in big demand when construction for the pipeline from Alberta to BC begins.

“He says Filipinos have a natural skill for welding and they have a huge plus over others.

“‘The advantage of the Filipinos is because they can understand and they can read and comprehend the standards. And when they come here, it’s easy for the Canadians to give them instructions because instructions is a safety issue. If they cannot follow instructions, it will become a safety issue here.’

“Montes says a skilled welder can earn from $50 plus per hour.

“Currently there are only three centres that are accredited by the Canadian Welding Bureau: Brilliant Metal Works, ZOIE Training Centre, and Primary Structures Educational Foundation — all in Cebu.

“Those who pass the test here can get a welding card that is valid anywhere in Canada.

“With this development, the Philippine Labour Office is confident that Canada will continue to hire more temporary foreign workers despite charges that the program is stealing jobs away from Canadians.”

And voilà, Jason Kenney’s new 10-day fast track stream for skilled temporary foreign workers is there to receive them.