Business owner Kamal Singh welcomes changes that will allow more international workers to apply for permanent residency. (submitted photo/Kamal Singh)

By Teena Monteleone

International workers

Province makes changes to better support worker retention

Nov 1, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Kamal Singh has invested in owning and operating 13 restaurants in Saskatchewan, four of which are found in Prince Albert. Among all his employees at least 30 to 40 of them are international hires.

“As an employer, we’ve struggled… not just me, but my friends too. We’ve all struggled because there are less employees and less people wanting to move to Saskatchewan.”

Singh is optimistic an expansion to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) that was just announced will help improve the labour market gaps and worker retention issues in the province.

“The people I hire from immigration, they stay for one year, maybe two years before they move to bigger provinces like Ontario or Alberta, but even if someone stays for one year that’s better than not,” Singh said.

The province announced the Existing Work Permit stream will now be available to certain permit holders working in Saskatchewan in intermediate and lower-skilled occupations who can now apply for permanent residency.

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“Creating more permanent residency opportunities for displaced Ukrainians and other international workers is just another way our government is further supporting Saskatchewan’s business economy,” said Martensville-Warman MLA Terry Jenson in a press release on behalf of Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison.

Previously, only newcomers in high-skilled occupations and designated trades were eligible for the Existing Work Permit stream. With the skill expansion to include lower and intermediate-skilled sectors newly eligible workers can pursue permanent residence as long as they have worked in the province and meet the remaining program criteria which includes language requirements and having a permanent, full-time job offer.

Permit holders can now apply in an additional 279 occupations, including farm labourers, truck drivers, retail sales, nurse aids and equipment operators.

Patty Hughes, the CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce anticipates seeing an increase in the number of businesses taking advantage of this opportunity because it has been made easier.

“There is a significant cost for the employer to bring in international employees. Many leave after obtaining their permanent residency, but many employers still go through the process as it provides a stable source to staff their business and continue normal business operations and hours,” Hughes said.

Singh believes the expansion will be especially helpful for employers looking to fill retail jobs, but he says the province as a whole will benefit.

“If more people come here and stay here, they’ll bring their families and also contribute to society, buy houses and generate revenue for the community. As an employer, I can open another restaurant and accommodate new people. So, I think this will be good for Saskatchewan.”

The only thing Singh is worried about is balance.

“While bringing so many people from the outside can help, we don’t want the people here already to lose a job either,” said Singh. “So, it’s good, but I don’t want it to be too much so our local people struggle.”

And he said there needs to be enough housing and infrastructure already in place to accommodate newcomers.

The Government of Saskatchewan recently successfully negotiated increases to the annual allocation of provincial immigration nominees for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The province currently has more than 16,000 job vacancies posted on SaskJobs and National Job Bank. A total of 112,260 job openings are forecasted in Saskatchewan over the next five years.

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Teena.Monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW