New direct employer-immigrant recruitment portal launched by Quebec

Quebec Minister of Immigration – Nadine Girault, made an announcement on November 5 introducing a new feature of Employer Portal allowing the eligible employers of the province to recruit skilled immigrants who are looking for employment, using the data from the Arrima system.

It was also on this date that the new functionality of the Employer Portal, a service offered by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, was made available to businesses.

Designed to make it easier to select the people who best meet the current needs of the province’s labor market, the new functionality will allow businesses to directly access the ministry’s website, view the profiles of immigrant applicants, Offer them a job and help start the immigration process. 

Registraire des entreprises du Quebec’s registered companies will be able to recruit immigrants or people from ethnocultural minorities established in the province, international students graduating from Quebec with a PGWP, or temporary or permanent workers from abroad.

“By making the profiles of prospective immigrants available to businesses, they can more quickly identify the people who best meet their workforce needs,” wrote the Department of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) in an email.

“Navigation in the Portal is ergonomic and allows the company to view the results displayed in real-time when it selects its various search criteria. Also, the interface allows users to save and download their search results and tag their favorites so they can be contacted quickly. “

In the event of a match between employers and applicants for immigration, companies can also benefit from a personalized assistance service to help them choose the right immigration program and go through the various stages. This personalized support program is offered by the Department’s regional immigration and international recruitment advisers and is available in all administrative regions of Quebec.

The Employer Portal is a free service that has been operational since June 27, 2019. “Since then, a business can obtain personalized, local support from a ministry advisor to access the Employer Portal. The new version of the Employer Portal, which includes an interface allowing companies to search independently, has been accessible since November 5, 2020,” MIFI said.

To access the Employer Portal, businesses must first create a profile in Arrima, Quebec’s online expression of the interest management system, after which they can request help online. Once this request is submitted, businesses will receive a personalized response from a ministry advisor within five business days. Once this step is completed and access is granted, companies will be able to conduct independent research, store results, and contact applicants.

While the portal will make it easier to identify the people who best meet their workforce needs, it “will not speed up the immigration process under a temporary or permanent immigration program.”, Wrote the MIFI.

The functionality added to the portal is primarily a recruiting tool designed to address long-standing labor shortages in the province and to ensure economic recovery from COVID-19.

“Intensifying efforts to recruit international talent is a priority for our government and is an integral part of a solid economic recovery,” Minister Girault said in a press release.

“With the launch of the Employer Portal’s online interface for businesses, as well as the resumption of international recruiting activities, the government is acting proactively. We support businesses more effectively and act in a more targeted manner. “

On October 29, Girault tabled the Quebec Immigration Plan 2021 in the National Assembly. Quebec plans to welcome up to 47,500 new immigrants in 2021, which will add 7,000 immigrants from a deficit forecast in 2020. The Province of Quebec will not be able to meet the immigration levels it has set for this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on immigration to Quebec.

Reference is taken from CIC News