In a Quebec in need of manpower, many companies are looking internationally to recruit workers. After five years of proceedings, a Mirabel company is deprived of millions of dollars in contracts, still entangled in the administrative maze and the long delays of the immigration system.
A fine dust that grips the throat floats in the factory. In a deafening din, it cuts, it saws, it glues wood. “Do you see the Portuguese gentleman over there? He is working alone. Normally, there are five of them,” shouts Sébastien Grenier, president of Moulures Algonquin, buried by the noise of the machines. Dina Regheb, a French-born engineer who arrived at the start of the pandemic on a working holiday permit, confirms the high turnover rate. “We never stop training. »
Nearly 50 employees work for this SME in Mirabel, in the expansion phase. But it would need about thirty more to overcome its order book. “We could open a shift at night if we had everyone,” explains Mr. Grenier. Spring — the season for renovations par excellence — is a particularly difficult period. “Asphalt and roofing companies offer crazy wages. We are losing employees. »
And lots of money. René Warnet, the main shareholder of the SME, which has just handed over the reins to the next generation, estimates that $150,000 is lost each week. It is 7.5 million per year, for a company which has a turnover of 20 million and which could double it, even triple it, assures the businessman. “For several months, we have been forced to work in rotation because we have no staff. Imagine how much that limits our production capacity. »
The problem of recruitment, in particular for low-wage jobs that require only a low level of qualification, has always existed, argues Mr Warnet. But it intensified. “Of all the people who make an appointment for an interview, 80% do not show up,” he points out.
Despite an increase from $13 to $18 per hour in three years, the employee retention rate after three months is starving: less than 1%.
Recruiting abroad, a challenge
On the second floor, in a small meeting room with a view of the factory, Réjean Tremblay, shareholder of the company and retired soldier, points to a table buried under piles of documents. “It’s to impress you a little. Do you see all the paperwork that needs to be filled out? he says, referring to the cumbersome steps to take to bring in temporary foreign workers (TFWs).
In 2017, when the labor shortage problem became critical, Moulures Algonquin had no choice but to turn abroad. Last January, the Minister of Employment and Immigration, Jean Boulet, authorized the increase from 10% to 20% of the number of low-wage foreign workers within a company. A relief for many, but the process still has to work. “We fought a lot with immigration, without too much success,” laments Sébastien Grenier, discouraged.
Because five years later, the company, which had started the process of bringing in eight workers from abroad, could not accommodate any of these pairs of arms. Five Filipinos are waiting for their work permits — five others have since been recruited but have not started the immigration process — and three Mexicans have had their files closed. Why ? ” We do not know ! launches into a nervous laugh Nathalie Lévesque, who worked on this case. “I was transferred from an agent [de l’immigration], and it fell into nothingness. »
The list of his frustrations is as long as Route 117, where the silviculture company has a storefront. Just like that of the exchanges with the civil servants, the deputies, the offices of the ministers, which were carefully recorded and dated. “The file is quite thick, thank you,” said Mr.me Levesque.
In four and a half years, she has lost count of the times she had to send the form back to the federal government because there was a newer one to fill out, and where she was asked again for documents she had already provided. “It was horribly heavy. I told myself that they weren’t super orderly and that they must have lost our papers. Currently, the federal government can take up to six months to issue a work permit.
As for the five Filipinos, about six months after the first steps, their cases reached an important stage in just a few days after the intervention of the Bloc member for Mirabel, Jean-Denis Garon. A nice “coincidence,” Mr. Tremblay kindly ironically comments. “We see it in the newspapers, governments and ministers like Mr. Boulet getting their chops going by saying that we’re going to make our job easier, but we don’t always feel it. »
Hope and skepticism
Advertisements, posters and videos on social networks, the SME will not abandon its recruitment efforts. Last August, its leaders even went to meet community organizations in Laval to offer jobs to the Afghans they were preparing to receive.
“Since last week, we are with the Catholic Church! says Réjean Tremblay. Thanks to his deputy, this resident of the South Shore was able to get in touch with the church of Saint-Hubert frequented by a large Latin American community. “The officials will publish our job offers for free throughout the diocese”, indicated, happy, the man who seems ready to move mountains to find rare pearls.
For the past month, the programs put in place by Quebec and Ottawa to bring in Ukrainians have given some hope. Moulures Algonquin has already reconnected with its local federal deputy and a community organization in Saint-Jérôme to offer a “permanent” job, housing, a contribution to French lessons, temporary health insurance and full support in the process of settlement for four Ukrainian families.
Despite everything, the leaders of the company remain skeptical. “It’s promising, but again, will the boots follow the chops? can’t help but ask Réjean Tremblay.