ILC opens prairie recruiting base

Saskatoon - The International Labour Centre (ILC), known for recruiting Ukrainian workers from Kiev for employers in Western Canada since 2005, celebrated the opening of a new recruiting base in Saskatoon on May 11.

The official opening was held at Sutherland Hall with a guest list that ranged from Saskatchewan employers, Ukrainian community representatives, SIAST staff , Saskatchewan government officials, and Ukrainian workers. The new office will help to bridge the time and distance gap between employers in Saskatchewan and potential immigrant workers recruited by ILC from Kiev.

"It is very important for us to be closer to our clients and employers," said Gareth Charpentier, ILC's marketing and sales manager.

"With the time difference between Ukraine and Canada, it makes it difficult to communicate with employers effectively sometimes.

"In terms of communications with our clients and being able to get in touch with all the right employers it's going to be a lot easier for us to meet and greet and communicate with those people."

ILC has maintained a strong relationship with the government of Saskatchewan's Immigrant Nominee Program, SIAST and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which have provided the necessary immigration and community settlement support.

Saskatchewan government officials have visited ILC's office in Ukraine on four occasions since 2004 to help employers recruit Ukrainian skilled workers in the province.

SIAST began partnering with ILC in 2009 to provide assistance in the recognition of candidates' skills and English levels in test centres in Kiev so that employers are able to make the best choice.

More than 500 tradesmen and their families have used ILC's services to move to Saskatchewan where the demand for skilled workers continues to grow.

ILC has seen strong demand for its services from the oil and gas, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, meat processing, construction and agriculture sectors since it began recruiting over 10 years ago.

Floorhands, derrickhands, welders, heavy-duty automotive mechanics and CNC operators lead the list of occupations in the oil and gas industry that ILC hopes to hire new Ukrainian workers for.

"Historically, oil and gas hasn't been one of our main clients, but going forward I am planning on attending the Weyburn Oil and Gas show," said Charpentier.

"We are going to be going to the Bonnyville oil and gas show as well to really get our name out there.

"There is a demand there for foreign workers because of labour shortages and housing shortages.

"A lot of employers I talk to say they just can't hang on to their workers for more than a few months because they come in earn their money then take off.  That's one of the real struggles for the oilfield employers."

Ukrainian workers have a strong tradition in Saskatchewan with approximately 13.6 per cent of the population reporting a Ukrainian ethnic origin in the 2006 Canada Census.

"Ukrainians are very hard working," said Charpentier. "They are used to working long hours in Ukraine so they are not going scoff at working some overtime, especially since they know if there is the opportunity to immigrate, they are going to work a lot harder.

"They also have good technical skills, good experience, and are well educated. That's what makes us confident hiring into the Ukraine market."

Ukraine imports most of its oil but offers training for careers in the energy sector at the National Technical University of Oil and Gas in Ivano-Frankivsk.

ILC tries to recruit experienced oilfield candidates in Ukraine who typically come to Canada on a temporary basis, usually for a two-year term.

"We usually try to find candidates with drilling experience," said Charpentier. "It makes sense in the long run - if the employer wants to keep them, they can apply through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program in Regina. That way, the employer can keep them full-time."

Charpentier cites the example of Royal Well Servicing in Lloydminster that recently promoted a couple of its temporary immigrant workers to positions of skills in demand as drillers that allows them to seek permanent residency in Canada.

Ukrainian workers who gain oilfield experience in Russia are motivated to work abroad by the promise of higher wages and a better lifestyle, says Charpentier.

"In Kiev, the capital, you can make only US$500 a month. That's the average wage.

"When you see the average wage in the oil patch here they see the opportunity to immigrate.

"Many of the people have families that come on their own, but if they know there is an opportunity for them to immigrate long term, that's a real motivation for them."

Charpentier says there was a recent video in Ukraine that reported that 49 per cent of young people surveyed would be interested in leaving the country to work abroad.

Since 2000, ILC has facilitated the recruitment and placement of more than 5,000 Ukrainians in a variety of trades and occupations collaborating with employers in international markets such as Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Italy, and several others.

In Kiev, ILC is affiliated with the Kyiv Youth Labour Centre (KYLC), a state agency, that was established in 1993.