waiters, dishwashers, cooks and other low-skill occupations

[brian_singapore]

Hi,

Just curious, mostly because there is controversy over temporary foreign workers being imported into some regions of Canada for jobs at fast food restaurants at the moment.

I keep seeing vacancy ads for typical menial, low skilled positions, usually in the 900-1200 range outside restaurants. The restaurant where I ate was advertising an extra hundred bucks a month for sc and pr applicants.

Are they bringing in foreigners to fill these positions under work permits? I thought I read somewhere the lowest qualifying salary range was around 2400. Or is this the low-end of the market looking to exploit dp/loc holders referred to in the other thread.

Brian

[sundaymorningstaple]

There is a large difference between the WP (Work Permit) and the S/EP passes. What you are seeing are WP wages from places like the PRC, Malaysia, India, etc. S passes start at 2200 (2400 really) and EP's start around 3300/mo.

[brian_singapore]

There is a large difference between the WP (Work Permit) and the S/EP passes. What you are seeing are WP wages from places like the PRC, Malaysia, India, etc. S passes start at 2200 (2400 really) and EP's start around 3300/mo.

What's the difference wp vs. S/EP? No path to PR? Or just additional levies applied to the employer?

[the lynx]

There is a large difference between the WP (Work Permit) and the S/EP passes. What you are seeing are WP wages from places like the PRC, Malaysia, India, etc. S passes start at 2200 (2400 really) and EP's start around 3300/mo.

What's the difference wp vs. S/EP? No path to PR? Or just additional levies applied to the employer?

3. WP - unskilled worker - levy

2. SPass - semi-skilled worker - levy

1. EP - skilled worker - no levy

[brian_singapore]

I just went and read the levy structure; Canada should really implement something like this rather then try for stricter review of business justification on why a restaurant needs to import a foreigner for an unskilled position when the unemployment rate is 7%...

That and I shudder at the thought of living in Singapore on 1300 a month.

[Wd40]

Work permit holders are similar to maids, even though salary seems low, the employer is responsible for their food, accomodation and transport. You will be surprised, out of that 1300, they actually save like 1000 and remit it to their home. That 1000 when converted to Rupees, Taka, Kyat, Peso or whatever is enough to feed a big family and lead a middle class lifestyle.

[brian_singapore]

Work permit holders are similar to maids, even though salary seems low, the employer is responsible for their food, accomodation and transport. You will be surprised, out of that 1300, they actually save like 1000 and remit it to their home. That 1000 when converted to Rupees, Taka, Kyat, Peso or whatever is enough to feed a big family and lead a middle class lifestyle.

Ahh, I had no idea they would manage to keep that much of their take home. That makes a lot more sense.

[ecureilx]

Work permit holders are similar to maids, even though salary seems low, the employer is responsible for their food, accomodation and transport. You will be surprised, out of that 1300, they actually save like 1000 and remit it to their home. That 1000 when converted to Rupees, Taka, Kyat, Peso or whatever is enough to feed a big family and lead a middle class lifestyle.

and still many NGOs complain of exploitation of WP holders ... and asking more to be done.

agreed there are few unscrupulous employers ....

[the lynx]

Work permit holders are similar to maids, even though salary seems low, the employer is responsible for their food, accomodation and transport. You will be surprised, out of that 1300, they actually save like 1000 and remit it to their home. That 1000 when converted to Rupees, Taka, Kyat, Peso or whatever is enough to feed a big family and lead a middle class lifestyle.

Unfortunately half of the time, these WP holders do not have food, transport and accommodation covered. So they have to live like how some S Pass holders live - rent a house, MRT + bus to work, buy $2 mixed rice. Normally these are either office admins, account assistants and technicians from Malaysia (although I have yet to meet those from other countries earning that low under WP). Granted, those would have lived in JB and cross border to work but I do not know of any other nationality under WP that can do that.

[taxico]

koreans + taiwanese come here on WPs too... some get lucky and find an SP or EP position. others continue to live/work in the conditions lynx mentioned...