Nova Scotia made a working offer to refugees
The shortage of medical workers in the province forced the authorities to look for alternative means. So they went to a refugee camp to look for them.
The local government, together with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, other organisations and volunteers, visited the Kenyan refugee camp. As part of a federal program, they interviewed the local residents there and selected people with relevant qualifications.
As a result, 65 Kenyans received nominal invitations to work as continuing care assistants.
The government states that the selection was made according to the skills spelt out in the regional and provincial immigration programs.
The duties of the new assistants include:
- help in everyday life;
- nursing at home and in medical institutions.
But there is no specific timeframe or date when the selected Kenyans will be able to start work. The approximate deadline is mid-2023.
Suzanne Ley, senior executive director of the Office of Health Care Recruitment, said: "We hope that all 65 potential employees will accept the offer."
All candidates were pre-screened for qualifications, then they were interviewed tet-a-tet, where they not only considered work issues, but also talked about the importance of knowing English, life in Nova Scotia, and learning.
This was the first recruitment of its kind for Nova Scotia. Ley noted that many of those coming to Nova Scotia have spouses with skilled partners. Welders, for example.
Work is now underway to figure out where in the province they will end up working.
