Fiji migrant numbers rise in Canada

September 08 2010
Posted by: Tamunk

CANADA'S Immigration department has noted a sharp increase of Fiji workers entering its labour market between 1999 and 2008 with a confirmed 740 Fijians given work permits between that period.

Former business development manager at the Fiji Embassy in Washington Ashwant Dwivedi told the Fiji Times that from 1999 until 2006, a total of 122 foreign workers from Fiji were given work permit for employment purposes in Canada.

However, in 2007 and 2008 alone, he said a total of 618 Fiji citizens were given worker permit for Canada, the largest number recorded in permits issued.

"This is a significant increase," Mr Dwivedi said.

"Based on the Canadian government Immigration report in the last five years, between 2004 and 2008, a total of 618 Fiji citizens have entered Canada as foreign workers to be employed in Canada's job market," he said.

"The most number of people who have come to Canada as foreign workers were recorded in the years 2007 and 2008.

"In 2007, 268 Fiji citizens moved to Canada as foreign workers while in 2008, 293 Fiji citizens were given work permit to work in Canada," he added.

Mr Dwivedi said although the report did not specify fields in which these workers were employed, based on previous statistics and reports, most were employed in the tourism sector.

He said most of those workers had undergone certification in Canada to meet Canadian tourism standards. That trend, Mr Dwivedi said related to Canada's demand for foreign workers.

"According to Immigration Canada, Canada's temporary foreign worker program helps address temporary labour shortages by allowing employers to hire foreign workers when sufficient numbers of Canadian workers are not readily available," he said.

"Without access to temporary foreign labour, many small businesses would not be able to function and would be forced into insolvency," he added.

Mr Dwivedi said the demand for jobs was based on labour market survey that Canada's Ministry of Human Resources determined.

"However, any person who seeks to be employed in areas of employment in demand must satisfy an immigration officer have necessary skills and knowledge and proven experience," he said.

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