Chit Chat
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/04/10/woodbine-faces-dearth-of-skilled-grooms-exercise-riders.html
As many as 100 grooms and exercise riders from other countries who have worked at Woodbine for years were required to leave their Canadian jobs as of April 1. The government counters that Canadians should have first crack at such jobs.
Changes to the federal Temporary Foreign Workers Program took effect last week. They state that migrant workers in jobs deemed “unskilled,” who have been employed in Canada for four years or more and have not made headway to obtain permanent residence must leave the country.
These workers, said to be number about 70,000, will be banned from working in Canada for four years, and after that time is up, must reapply to return. Jobs as grooms, which can pay up to $700 a week, are considered unskilled according to Employment and Social Development Canada.
“The (federal) government knows nothing about our industry,” she said. “It is outrageous to say we are not trying to hire Canadians. I have Canadian workers, but you can’t have people coming to groom horses simply because they have worked in a dog kennel. These jobs are highly skilled.”
People in the industry have been told a high unemployment rate for the area surrounding Woodbine and a perceived decline in the racing industry are reasons for denials of applications for foreign workers.
As many as 100 grooms and exercise riders from other countries who have worked at Woodbine for years were required to leave their Canadian jobs as of April 1. The government counters that Canadians should have first crack at such jobs.
Changes to the federal Temporary Foreign Workers Program took effect last week. They state that migrant workers in jobs deemed “unskilled,” who have been employed in Canada for four years or more and have not made headway to obtain permanent residence must leave the country.
These workers, said to be number about 70,000, will be banned from working in Canada for four years, and after that time is up, must reapply to return. Jobs as grooms, which can pay up to $700 a week, are considered unskilled according to Employment and Social Development Canada.
“The (federal) government knows nothing about our industry,” she said. “It is outrageous to say we are not trying to hire Canadians. I have Canadian workers, but you can’t have people coming to groom horses simply because they have worked in a dog kennel. These jobs are highly skilled.”
People in the industry have been told a high unemployment rate for the area surrounding Woodbine and a perceived decline in the racing industry are reasons for denials of applications for foreign workers.
sort by:
Show
per page