CANADA OWNERS OF 3 MCDONALD RESTAURANTS WHICH WAS FACING ACTION FOR ABUSE OF FOREIGN WORKERS WERE FIRST DENIED LABOR MARKET IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT BY IMMIGRATION BUT JUST PHONE CALL TO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT RESULTED IN REVERSAL OF DECISION THEN GETTING THE APPROVAL OF WORK PERMIT TO IMPORT TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS The owner of three McDonalds restaurants at the centre of a Temporary Foreign Worker Program controversy earlier this year was twice denied the positive assessments, called Labour Market Opinions or LMOs, needed to bring in such workers. After a phone call one of the decisions was reversed just over two weeks later and stamped ASAP by government staffers and all subsequent requests were also granted. The information was revealed in documents obtained by The Tyee through access to information legislation. In April the three restaurants owned by Nasib Services in Victoria had their LMOs suspended and were blacklisted after allegations by staff the locations were turning away dozens of qualified Canadians and instead bringing in TFWs. The companys LMOs are still suspended as an investigation continues. But hundreds of pages of documents show the location was initially denied LMOs for supervisor positions paying $12.36 an hour on the basis the requirements listed in local job advertisements were too high. A foreign worker program specialist at Service Canada initially said Nasib Services didnt accomplish the task. The employment requirements appear to be excessive as per the National Occupational Classification, wrote William MacLean in a rejection letter to the company Jan. 27, 2012. As part of our assessment, we need to ensure that the position requirements are consistent with the NOC and are reasonable enough to attract potential Canadians/Permanent Residents to apply for the position. Notes related to the rejection in the documents said there were 30 applicants for the 15 positions -- 25-30 per cent of which were foreign workers -- and none of the Canadian applicants were interviewed due to lack of experience. The notes said such work history was explained by the owner as being necessary to take on the supervisor roles. Why no one already working at the locations was being promoted to the supervisor roles was also brought up. Question internal promotion of existing staff to fill positions. ER states that one or more that may be promoted have been already taken into account in regard to the numbers requested. Decision: position requirements excessive, LMO refused. But just over two weeks later the decision was reversed.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:19:26 +0000
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