Filipino Foreign Workers after the Economic Slowdown
by Rene Delos Santos

3-4 years ago the construction industry experienced the shortage of skilled workers here in BC and throughout the country. One of the major solution of the government was to get people from different countries to augment the manpower requirements of every employers. This was a win-win situation. The Canadian government was able to solve the shortage of skilled workers by hiring foreign workers, bringing them in, when the country needed them most. Many projects were completed on time and made the economy stronger. On the other hand, Canada had given the foreign workers an opportunity to earn a descent living and improving their way of life.

Filipino workers are among those who came to Canada. They are perceived by employers as hard workers, industrious, dependable, flexible, and can easily communicate. Many employers want to hire Filipino workers. Some of them had become permanent residents through the BCPNP program.
Now that there is decline in economic activity, few companies had to shut down, and some laid-off their people. Everybody was affected including the foreign workers.

The Filipino workers understands the situation, and are willing to accept any job that would earn them an income, be it construction helpers, assistant mechanics, security jobs, cleaners, etc. They want to work, they want to survive, they had invested a lot of time, money and effort to be able to come to Canada. Their predicament that they will not be able to work for other companies, other than the once who hired them is now the main problem affecting these temporary workers. They are prevented from doing so by the policy of the government.

The policy to give preference to local workers is somewhat discriminatory. These foreign workers are here, because we needed them during our critical necessity. They contributed to the economic development of BC, and the country. They are not supposed to be alienated now because the economy is idle. They are not here to compete with the local workers but instead compliment each other.

They are supposed to be given the equal opportunity to find new employers, change employers, and given new work permit. Employers should not be burdened looking for local workers, who does not like to work. Many employers are still looking for people, especially Filipino workers because of their work ethics.

There are employers eager to hire, there are available Filipino foreign workers, who are in town, and are willing to work, there are no local workers( or few) who are willing to work and accept low paying job.

On behalf of the Filipino Foreign workers, we are asking for the federal and local government to consider their plea, to give them the equal opportunity as the local workers. That, once they can find jobs and employers, they should be given the chance to renew their work permit to be able for them to stay and support their families and have a descent way of life, and continue to contribute to the progress of their respective employers’ business, the economy and the country. Besides, they should be considered local per se, since they are physically present in Canada, were allowed to come and work during the time that they were critically needed, and had contributed to the economic development of BC and the country.