Prior to the pandemic, businesses had
difficulty finding qualified workers. The current crisis hasn’t helped the
situation; qualified candidates are still hard to find.
Seeking out professionals who have recently
arrived in our country is one option that can alleviate the problem. But how
can we match businesses with job seekers who are facing numerous obstacles in
the job market?
It’s for this very reason that the Chambre de
commerce et d’industrie de Laval (CCIL) has launched Interconnexion Laval with
the financial support of the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and
Integration, as well as partnerships with Services Québec and Perspective
Carrière.
In an interview,
Martine Lafrance—who manages Interconnexion Laval and was responsible for
getting it off the ground—explains how it all works and why it’s such an
essential program.
What
is Interconnexion Laval?
It’s a program
that basically solves two problems at once. First, we have the challenge of
finding qualified staff. Businesses struggle with this for all types of
employment. Before COVID-19, we heard a lot about worker shortages across
Quebec and in Laval. Today, the situation is different, but businesses still
struggle to find qualified workers.
The second problem is that individuals who
are recent immigrants have difficulty finding work in their field. Their
unemployment rate is higher than the general population. In their home
countries, they had diplomas and qualifications that are not being recognized
here for all sorts of reasons. These individuals would be great candidates who
have the skills and knowledge to fill open posts here in Quebec.
In
concrete terms, what does the program do to help businesses and job seekers?
Our role is to match up businesses with
qualified candidates. The heart of what we do is recruiting candidates and
putting them into contact with businesses that require their skills. Even if
the candidates don’t have all of the certifications required in Quebec, they
can really help businesses who need their experience and expertise.
Thanks to the
collaboration of our resources, the support we offer is aimed at helping
organizations meet with candidates that have the desired profile. This could
include individuals that would otherwise not have been considered for the job,
even though they have the required skills. What’s more, because we want to
ensure employee retention, our services include the transition and integration
of recent immigrants with their new employer.
Whether it’s francisation in the workplace or
for human resources consulting, our counsellors play an important liaison role
between the business, the candidate and the available services—all of which
contribute to steady and sustainable employment.
Do
you give money to businesses who hire candidates from Interconnexion Laval?
Interconnexion
Laval does not pay out subventions directly. That said, we facilitate access to
employer subventions, thanks to our partnership with Services Québec. For
example, we support businesses who apply for a salary subvention in the context
of the Programme
d’aide à l’intégration des immigrants et des minorités visibles en emploi (PRIIME).
The PRIIME subvention covers a portion of the
employee’s salary up to 70 per cent of the minimum salary for the time period
in question. Eligible businesses can benefit from this subvention for a period
of between 30 to 52 weeks.
We also offer
organizations a support service for 20-hour non-remunerated observation
internships or four-week internships (paid for by the business) through our
counsellors so that we can promote the transition from intern to employee.
As for job
seekers, we don’t work with them to write their resumés or other employability
strategies. Rather, we refer them to Perspective Carrière who will support them
in these areas.
What
has the pandemic changed for Interconnexion’s clientele?
Obviously, our support is now done
virtually, but we still offer our placement services to match newly arrived
immigrants with businesses. Perspective Carrière continues to accompany newly
arrived immigrants in the employment preparation and Services Québec also
continues to support employers through the PRIIME subvention.
Another thing that hasn’t changed; it’s still
free. Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, Interconnexion Laval’s
services are totally free!
Our team of program counsellors are used to
answering questions from businesses and job seekers. Here are some of the most
frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, get in touch with
Interconnexion Laval at 450-682-5255, extension 261, or write to
interconnexion@ccilaval.qc.ca.
Who
is the program for?
Interconnexion Laval is for job seekers who
have immigrated in the past five years as well as for businesses who are
looking for qualified workers.
Services for businesses center around
recruitment, integration, and employee retention.
As for job seekers, they receive assistance
from Interconnexion’s counsellors to connect with businesses looking to hire.
More precisely, the program’s role is to match employers with job seekers. Our
counsellors don’t help with resumé writing, but rather will analyse the
situation and direct candidates towards useful resources through our partnerships,
such as with Perspective Carrière—our main collaborator for employability
skills and strategies.
How much does Interconnexion
Laval’s services cost?
All services from Interconnexion Laval are
free of charge for employers and job seekers. The Ministry of Immigration,
Francisation and Integration provides the funding, which is managed by the
Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Laval (CCIL).
Can Interconnexion Laval help
me get subventions?
The program itself does not provide
subventions, but our mandate is to help guide you toward the appropriate
resources and to support you in your efforts. As for subventions in general,
you need to consult Services Québec. This government organization will evaluate
your situation and explain the various possibilities that are available to you.
In fact, Services Québec manages the Programme d’aide à l’intégration des
immigrants et des minorités visibles en emploi (PRIIME), which offers salary
subventions to eligible businesses.
What are the eligibility requirements
for the PRIIME?
There are
several baseline criteria that must be respected, most notably the ability to
offer long-term employment. The business’s eligibility will be evaluated by
Service Québec once contact has been made via Interconnexion Laval. It’s
important to note that the future employee must also be eligible for the salary
subvention. Service Québec will be responsible for evaluating this aspect as
well.
Are there a lot of documents to
sign to participate in Interconnexion Laval?
No. The
initial registration is simple and fast. After that, you might have to fill out
other documents for Service Québec. One of the big advantages to working with
Interconnexion Laval is how quickly you can begin to receive support and access
to services.
Do I have to be a member of CCIL to
take advantage of the program?
No. The program is open to all Laval-area
and North Shore businesses who are looking to hire qualified candidates living
in Laval.
When
will the salary subvention be paid out?
As soon as your business receives
confirmation of eligibility, the subvention will be accessible. The business’s
file must first be accepted by Services Québec before the employee begins work.
Because we have a partnership with Services Québec, our processes speeds things
up. It’s quite common to have a file processed within one week. For example, if
your employee starts work next week, we can speed up the process to have
everything ready within that week.
To
register as a candidate, do I have to be a Canadian citizen or have a work
permit?
Candidates must be permanent Canadian
residents in order to qualify for the services. They must also have been living
in Canada for less than five years.
Is it possible to help my other
employees with francisation? How can I benefit from this service?
Yes, absolutely. You don’t have to have
hired a candidate with the support of Interconnexion Laval to take advantage of
the francisation services or other training, such as language lessons. Our
counsellors at Interconnexion Laval will get you set up with your request.
Are Interconnexion candidates
bilingual?
We have candidates that master French and
English at varying levels. The majority of them also speak another language
such as Arab, Spanish or Russian.
What is the candidates’ level
with computer technology?
For the most part, their levels range from
intermediate to advanced.
How do you find your candidates?
Candidates are recruited across the
territory of Laval through collaboration with our partners in the field. In
other words, we work with a multitude of organizations such as employment
services or integration, cultural centers, etc.
A Team That’s
Just Like You
By
Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The counsellors at Interconnexion Laval know what it’s like to be
an immigrant, because almost all of them are immigrants. They have experienced
the challenges of arriving in an unfamiliar country, sometimes without being
able to rely on a support network.
Every
experience is different, but the team at Interconnexion Laval is in a unique
position to understand and support your needs. The team speaks multiple
languages, from French to Arab and even Russian, Spanish, Creole and English.
If
you’ve been dreaming of a job that fits your expertise and experience, contact
our counsellors If you’re supporting a newly immigrated individual, let them
know about Interconnexion Laval.
Thanina
Ameziane
Business Counsellor
Born in Algeria and arrived in Canada in 2008. Trained
in human resources and project management. Her strength; getting to the heart
of what businesses need and supporting them with HR services.
Rudy
Carlier
Candidate Counsellor and Liaison
Orignially from Belgium and arrived in 1999, he is very
much integrated in Québec! He builds partnerships and promotes the integration
of recent immigrants.
Jocelyne
Chartrand
Business Counsellor
Born in Quebec, she has a vast experience in Human
Resources. Her speciality; promoting professional opportunities.
Mohammed
Cheramti
Candidate Counsellor
Born in Morocco and arrived in 2010 after some time
spent in academics and professional work in Europe. His speciality and
passion ; helping people find work !
Daphney
Colon
Business Counsellor
Of Haitian origin. Specialized in learning processes
and coaching. Loves to help businesses discover their hidden gem!
Svetlana
Filippova
Candidate Counsellor
Arrived from Russia in 2014. She learned French in
record time! Supporting and motivating people to integrate into a new job are
her specialities.
Martine
Lafrance
Director of Labour Force and Diversity
A Quebecer motivated by inclusion and equity. A
strategic vision, a benevolent management approach and creativity are her main
weapons in mobilizing the team and partners for the program’s success.
Larissa
Rico
Candidate Counsellor Born in Colombia and arrived in
2007. She successfully naviagted her progressional integration in the fields of
human resources and immigration. Her speciality; motivating others to achieve
their dreams!
Saliha
Tighersine
Candidate Counsellor
Originally from Algeria and
came to Quebec in 2011. She decided to stay as of 2013. After having helped
businesses, she pivoted to support newly arrived immigrants. Her passion;
dedicated to helping other immigrants.
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