Food In Canada

New program prepares immigrants for food and beverage jobs

Food in Canada   

Food In Canada

The new Pre-Arrival Food Safety Management Training (PAFSMT) Program will provide approved permanent residence or pre-arrival immigrants with employment and food safety related training online

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The Food Processing Human Resources Council (FPHRC) is introducing a program to prepare Canadian newcomers for employment opportunities in Canada’s food and beverage processing industry. The newly developed Pre-Arrival Food Safety Management Training (PAFSMT) Program is expected to provide approved permanent residence or pre-arrival immigrants with employment and food safety related training online.

According to a press release from the FPHRC, food and beverage processing is the largest manufacturing industry in Canada in terms of value of production, and is an essential channel for Canadian agricultural products, but the industry often struggles to find workers. The press release asserts that this is a growing and pressing concern for Canadian farmers and processors, and that over the next three years, Canada’s food and beverage processing industry will need to hire a minimum of 23,000 workers.

“There is a labour shortage in Canada’s food (and beverage) processing industry. As a growing food business it is a challenge for us to find and retain new workers. We are always looking to recruit qualified food safety personnel, entry level and skilled workers. We spend a lot of time advertising, recruiting and training workers. The industry needs a program like this, where new Canadians are coming trained and ready to work right away,” says Mike Timani, president of Moncton, N.B.-based Fancy Pokket Corporation.

“Immigrants are a substantial portion of the Canadian food and beverage processing workforce. The Council is in a unique position to provide food safety related training through this new program which will expedite the transition of new immigrants to exciting employment opportunities within the industry,” adds Jennefer Griffith, executive director, Food Processing Human Resources Council.

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The PAFSMT Program focuses on eligible pre-arrival clients. Successful clients who complete the program will leave their home country with 12 Canadian employment and food safety related certificates. The pre-arrival online training will promote the food manufacturing industry as a viable career choice, and aims to provide a seamless transition into the Canadian workforce, as well as directing pre-arrival clients to the available employment opportunities across Canada’s rural and urban areas.

Training will include:
-Canadian Employability Skills for Food Manufacturers (five courses)
-Basic Food Safety Skills (nine courses)
-Technical Food Safety Training (seven courses)

For more information about the Pre-Arrival Food Safety Management Program and recruitment opportunities, visit www.fphrc.com/careers-for-new-canadians/


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