go2 was pleased to work together with ZAV and the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development to hold an information session for industry employers and stakeholders. Below is a summary of the information session and how ZAV may be able to help you.
About ZAV
ZAV is a non-profit unit of Germany’s federal Employment Agency that can help Canadian employers fill job positions with suitable German workers for permanent and seasonal positions. ZAV services are free to employers and it can assist Canadian companies to recruit Germans of all skill levels. The ZAV database includes both unemployed job seekers and employed workers that wish to work internationally. ZAV services can include interviewing and prescreening candidates from the pool who meet the job criteria.
It was noted that wages and salaries within the tourism and hospitality sector in Germany are similar to what these sectors pay in Canada.
German Youth Mobility Programs – No “LMO” Required
If your company is looking to hire for seasonal positions, this is an ideal labour pool to explore. The Youth Mobility programs are offered to German citizens 18-35 years of age and ZAV can help you to connect to these job seekers.
In Germany there are two different youth mobility programs and there are a total of 4,000 spaces available each year. The percentage of how many visas are allotted to each program is different each year and based on demand.
Visas for these programs will be released in November and the quotas for the Work and Travel visa typically fill within a month. The Young Workers program quota often doesn’t fill. The work permits for these programs have a validity of up to 12 months from the date the participant enters Canada.
Download more information on German youth mobility program here.
Work & Travel
This category is a twelve-month “open” work & travel permit for young German citizens. This means the participant can work for any number of employers during their duration in Canada.
Young Workers
This category is a twelve-month permit for young workers who are German citizens and who want to obtain training or work experience in their field of professional training. For this category, there is no LMO required, but participants need an offer of employment made by a Canadian employer. The advantage of this program is that the participant must stay with the employer that made the job offer.
Note: It is possible for an individual to utilize both of the Youth Mobility categories. However, it is necessary for the participant to return to Germany to apply and be approved for the other category before returning to Canada.
Hospitality and Catering Apprenticeships in Germany
Based on go2’s experience working with ZAV at job fairs in 2008, Germany is a good source for culinary positions such as Cook/Chef and Baker. The apprentices in Germany go through three years of intensive, hands-on training in all departments of the hotel. An apprenticeship as a chef also takes three years to finish with one employer and covers all areas of the kitchen. Download more information here.
For more information on ZAV, view the documents below.
ZAV Contact information:
Hilke Estherr or Klaus Muenstermann
International Placement Specialist
Tel: +49 / 228 / 713 - 1416 for Hilke, or +49 / 228 / 713 - 1436 for Klaus
Email: employers-service@arbeitsagentur.de
Website: www.ba-auslandsvermittlung.de
BC Provincial Nominee Program
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle in BC and become permanent residents of Canada.
This program is administered on behalf of the Province of B.C. by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the federal government agency responsible for immigration.
How It Works
The Provincial Nominee Program selects and nominates potential immigrants for permanent residence who have the ability to become economically established in B.C. and who will provide significant economic benefits to the province.
Individuals nominated by the Province of B.C., together with their spouse and dependent children, are eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa from Citizenship and Immigration Canada in the Provincial Nominee Class.
Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project (ELSS)
An overview was provided on this 2-year pilot project that applies to select occupations and eligible employers in the tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking industries, and to qualifying foreign workers.
Candidate must have:
- basic proficiency in English;
- completed secondary education; and
- 9 months experience in an eligible occupation on a work permit & be employed by the sponsoring employer when applying
- Employer must make a declaration of compliance with employment, immigration, health & safety regulations for the year prior to application; and
- provide enhanced severance, job placement support & return air fare for nominees terminated without cause
Designated Tourism/Hospitality Occupations
Applications under the Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project will be considered only for the following occupations in the tourism/hospitality industry:
- Hotel Front Desk Clerks
- Tour & Travel Guides
- Outdoor Sport & Recreational Guides
- Casino Occupations
- Maitres d’hôtel & Hosts/Hostesses
- Bartenders
- Food & Beverage Servers
- Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers & Related Occupations
- Light Duty Cleaners, Specialized Cleaners, Janitors, Caretakers & Building Superintendents
- Other Attendants in Accommodation & Travel (hotels only)
- Dry Cleaning & Laundry Occupations
- Ironing, Pressing & Finishing Occupations
- Other Elemental Service Occupations (hotels & resorts only)
Click here to download a copy of PNP's presentation.
For more information, visit www.pnp.gov.bc.ca.
BC PNP Contact information:
Phone: 604.775.2227
Fax: 604.660.4092
Email: PNPinfo@gov.bc.ca
go2 Contact information:
Peter Larose
Director, Industry Workforce Development, go2
Phone: 604-633-9787 ext. 225
Email: plarose@go2hr.ca
Website: www.go2hr.ca
