Canadian company Hire Pro Drivers (HPD) has identified 35,000 long-haul trucking vacancies in Canada that could be filled by TT nationals and there is also the "strong possibility" of workers getting permanent residence, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primussaid yesterday.
Baptiste-Primus' disclosure came in yesterday's 2017 Budget debate in the Senate.
It may have been a ray of light on a darkening job market where she said 1,848 persons have lost jobs T&T to date.
But Guardian checks revealed that HPD, which did similar employment placement drives in Jamaica in 2012-13, has been the subject of articles in Canadian and Jamaican media regarding alleged problems with its endeavours.
Baptiste-Primus said the unemployment rate began climbing between 2014 and 2015 from 748 to 1,100 persons. To date in 2016 it is 1,848. But this is "the tip of the iceberg" she said since employers do not have to report terminations numbering under five.
Baptiste-Primus said reasons given by companies for job losses include organisational restructuring, decrease in business, worsening economic factors leading to reorganisation for companies to ensure viability and impact of the financial downturn globally.
She said the Ministry's ten-point plan to assist the jobless which was introduced several months ago–following the AcelorMittal closure–included training, counselling, business financing and exploration of overseas opportunities.
On the latter, she said Government was partnering with Canadian HPD which she described as a recruitment agency which is coming to T&T in December.
"They said they've identified 35,000 vacancies in Canada for long-haul drivers,"she added.
Baptsite-Priumus added HPD welcomed the opportunity to partner with T&T as the vacancies could be filled by nationals. She said there was also the "strong possibility " of workers migrating permanently to Canada.
She added Government would concretise the situation during the December HPD talks.
The British Columbia company's website states it provides a "comprehensive 'turnkey' solution to carriers seeking professional experienced Class 1 drivers, mechanics, welders and other trade related skilled professionals." It also specialised in "connecting employers with exceptional long-haul professional drivers, mechanics, welders and other trade professionals."
In 2012, then Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had lauded HPD for assistance with "the most recent group of Canadian employers to recruit Jamaicans for permanent jobs in Canada."
A January 2013 Jamaican Gleaner article reported on the experience of some drivers recruited by HPD who confirmed favourable experiences.
In February 2013, Canada's "Globe and Mail" reported the British Colombia and Alberta governments were investigating issues concerning HPD.
The article stated BC's Employment Standards Branch confirmed "active investigation" underway "in relation to Hire Pro Drivers, a BC company run by Michael Patterson that links Canadian employers to truck drivers from other countries, including Jamaica." No details were given by the Branch.
The article also alleged the company's owners sought "a fee in exchange for job placement" concerning another company he owned- Marmicmon. It also noted the owner was "involved in several initiatives to connect Jamaican workers with prospective Canadian employers, including serving as liaison between Jamaican and Canadian schools for a programme to train licensed practical nurses."
That initiative was suspended in 2011, due to alleged inability to meet contractual obligations. It stated the owner was later focused on "the industrial sector which is hungry for qualified truck drivers and heavy-duty mechanics."
In March 2013 the Jamaican Gleaner reported the Globe and Mail article and HDP's investigations under the headline "Trouble Brews in Canada/Jamaica driver employment programme."
It stated the entity which had partnered with the Jamaican Government to find employment opportunities for Jamaicans in Canada and "which has had good success in getting driving jobs for Jamaican truck and trailer drivers" was under investigation for possible breaches Canadian labour laws.
The Gleaner article stated it was alleged programme participants were required to pay up to CAN$750 for training, which included driver assessment and logbook courses, and this could be illegal. It noted Patterson denied any wrongdoing.