They help employers fill gaps in tight labour markets. They often contribute new skills and knowledge. And they are essential for helping Canada’s economy grow.
Photo Credit: iStockPhoto
They are temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and they’ve been in the news recently, as some of their employers have come under scrutiny.
This new-found notoriety undoubtedly raises questions about TFWs and the burgeoning oil sands sector.
Skilled workers
The oil sands, being a technologically complex industry, needs large numbers of skilled workers, and in larger numbers than the Canadian jobs market and education system can currently produce.
According to the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada, oil sands already accounts for 22,000-plus direct jobs. Over the next ten years (PDF) this number is expected to grow by 70%, or another 16,000 direct jobs.
It is this rate of expansion, far greater than the rate at which appropriately skilled Canadian workers can be trained or released from other industries, that drives the need for TFWs today and in the future.
We are as concerned as anyone about stories of mistreated TFWs. We realize we are accountable to all TFWs who work on our sites (most of whom are employed by our contractors).
That’s why we make sure TFWs get the same employment terms as local workers, including the same wages as laid down under the applicable collective agreement, and the same working conditions for safe and quality work.
Hire locally first
Naturally, as a Canadian company, Suncor’s first call-out is to Canadians for new jobs. Our hiring philosophy is not complicated: we hire local first, then regionally, then nationally, and only after these sources are exhausted do we look overseas. Nor do we rely on communities to produce skilled workers out of thin air. With our fellow oil sands companies, we work closely with Aboriginal communities, schools and apprentice schemes to encourage young or re-skilling people (women as well as men) into the right training programs so they are ready to take up oil sands jobs as soon as they’re qualified.
Just last year, Suncor, along with construction industry leaders from across Canada, formed BuildForce Canada, a new national organization to help keep a steady flow of highly skilled workers available to the growing construction industry, an area where the pinch for skilled labour will be felt the most.
Labour strategy
Suncor has a robust strategy to support our skilled labour needs over the long term. Bringing skilled people from other countries is just one element, alongside increasing workforce participation from apprentices, Aboriginal people and women, improving productivity, and partnering with the rest of our industry to make the labour supply process as efficient as possible.
We are here for the long term. It makes sense to hire the highest quality employees and keep them motivated and with us for as long as possible. It’s an important part of ensuring we can efficiently and safely produce the energy that Alberta, Canada and ultimately the rest of the world wants and needs.
