Overseas Employment

US & Canadian Farm Work

Hotel workers preparing to board flight at the Norman Manley International Airport.
Description

Canadian Farm and Factory Work Programme

Opportunity for gainful employment overseas.

US Farm Work Programme

Employment on farms, greenhouses, nurseries/horticulture, general farm work.

Documents/Criteria Required for the Provision of Services

Must:

  • Be between 21 and 45 years old
  • Be literate
  • Be in good health
  • Have valid passport, TRN and NIS

Must Not:

  • Have a criminal record
  • Have been deported by any country
  • Have been refused a visa in the last year by Canada, USA or any other country

* Farming experience is required.

How to Apply for Benefits/Services

Generally when a recruitment exercise is to be carried out the Minister makes an announcement in Parliament.

 

Application forms are issued to suitable candidates through:

  • Members of Parliament
  • Mayors
  • Councilors
  • MLSS Parish Offices
  • Civic Organizations

How the Service Operates

Forms are issued and returned to the Ministry of Labour to be processed.

 

MLSS contacts applicants to advise them of the date, time and place of their interview.

 

Successful candidates are screened for criminal records. If security checks are cleared then candidates are informed of date scheduled for medical.

 

After medical is completed and workers are found to be in good health, international security checks are carried out by the High Commission of Canada. Subsequently, workers are placed with an employer and then called to attend the Visa Application Centre (VAC) to have their biometrics done. This involves the applicants having their photograph and fingerprints taken electronically.

 

Applications are submitted for the issuance of the visa at the VAC when the biometrics are taken.

 

For the US Programme workers are dispatched to their employers shortly after the medical. After visas are issued, workers are prepared for flight and dispatched to their various employers.

Any Other Key Information

Application forms are NOT FOR SALE

 

Recruitment is conducted based on the demands of overseas employers

United States Hospitality Programme

Hotel Workers preparing to board flight at the Norman Manley International Airport
Description

Employment in United States Hotels to perform duties as housekeepers, waiters, kitchen stewards, landscapers etc.

Documents/Criteria Required for the Provision of Services

Must:

  • Be between 21 and 45 years old
  • Be literate
  • Be in good health
  • Have valid passport, TRN and NIS
  • Have 1 year experience in the leisure industry

Must Not:

  • Have a criminal record
  • Have been deported by any country
  • Have been refused a visa in the last year by Canada, USA or any other country

How to Apply for Benefits/Services

Occasionally advertisements seeking suitable applicants for specific positions are placed in the press.

 

Persons who are interested in the available positions are required to submit detailed resumes to MLSS, outlining:

  • Area of interest
  • Experience
  • Qualification
  • Education/ training

 

A letter of recommendation from employer is required for verification of experience

How the Service Operates
  • Employers express interest in recruiting hospitality workers.
  • If an adequate amount of workers are not readily available, advertisements are placed in the press to attract suitably qualified individuals.
  • Candidates are pre-screened and short listed.
  • Interviews are held with employers
  • Successful candidates are issued job offer letters.
  • Medicals are completed and embassy appointments made
  • Once the visa is issued workers are dispatched to the various employers

Information Customer Service Officer should be able to provide about the Dept.
    • Current vacancies
    • Requirements
    • Date of current interview
    • At each stage of the process the relevant departments will contact persons by phone and advise them of date for medical and time of departure.

Any Other Key Information

Recruitment is conducted based on demand

 

Welfare

Welfare
Description

Health and Death benefits to the sick or injured migrant workers and their families.

Benefits Provided (where applicable)
  • Assist with getting follow up health care for sick and injured migrant workers on the Canadian Farm & Factory work, the US Farm work and the US Hotel programmes.
  • Assist with accessing overseas pension benefits to persons on the Canadian programmes
  • Assist with accessing death benefits for families of deceased migrant workers

How the Service Operates
  • Welfare officer submits documents to the respective departments and or organization and follow up on progress of these.
  • Deceased migrant workers bodies are repatriated under the supervision of the Liaison Service
  • Welfare Officer and Social Worker liaise with family members to offer emotional support

Any Other Key Information

NIS benefits are accessible by persons who have participated in the programme since 1980 for US workers and 1984 for Canadian workers.