Canadian job placement agency opens up shop in Belize

A Canadian company is currently recruiting Belizean students to study in Canada. Actyl first gained attention last November when its representatives came to Belize looking for persons to work in Canada. The company is attracted to Belize, because of language skills and the level of education. Today, News Five’s Isani Cayetano was at Actyl’s office on Freetown Road where the recruitment drive was underway.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Belizeans interested in an occupation or tertiary education in Canada are being encouraged to take advantage of an ongoing recruitment campaign organized by Actyl.  Through a Foreign Worker Program, the company has been active in the employment of young men and women in various job markets in the province of Saskatchewan.  The weeklong drive is aimed at high school graduates wanting to pursue college abroad, as well as those who are just entering the workforce.  Steve Mullins is among the candidates.

Steve Mullins, Job Seeker

Steve Mullins

“I’m just trying to move away from my country to get a better job ‘cause down here it’s like we’ve been trying all over and the government ain’t helping us like that so I’m trying to move away and make better money, you know.  It’s a lot going on in Belize as well so we’re just trying to get away from stuff.”

According to Dr. Linda West, there is an increase in demand for Belizeans to work in Canada since its existing demography, in terms of labor, is short of a youthful population.

Dr. Linda West

Dr. Linda West, President, Actyl Group

“Canadians have been having a birthrate of about one-point-four [percent], that means that there are not as many young adults as there are older adults and so we don’t have young adults to take on the kinds of work that young adults do or go to our colleges and universities.  So we’re looking for Belizeans because you’re well educated and you’ve got great English.  Those are two things that we’re really looking for.”

Alex Aitken, a barber by trade, has traveled to Belize City from Santa Elena to meet with Actyl representatives.  Along with Steve Mullins, he is here to explore his options.

Isani Cayetano

“What are you looking for specifically?  Of all the things that are being offered are you looking for something specific to say well, “I would want to go to Canada to pursue barbering,” for instance?”

Alex Aitken, Job Seeker

Alex Aitken

“Well, actually barbering da my passion and that’s what I do, right.  Everybody know me as, well everybody know me as Jew Bwai through Jew Bwai Barbershop because, like ah seh, it’s my passion so I would like to pursue it like higher and stuff ‘cause I went on the website and I see they have it for hairstylists and such.  So that is what I would like to do and, you know, expand on my skills and further it, you know.”

Likewise, interested students can apply to Parkland College where they can complete their first year of programming for a degree in any of twenty concentrations, including anthropology, environmental science, political studies and education.

Dr. Linda West

“So the student program, basically you go to college for eight months and we’re suggesting Parkland because it’s in a smaller city and it’s a little bit more comfortable for people and then you’re able to work for a year and then apply for immigration.  Actually, you only have to work for about six months and then you can apply for immigration.  Immigration’s not guaranteed but very, very many of the people are successful.  In fact, we’ve never really personally had a failure.”

Isani Cayetano

“What are the academic requirements with regards to the opportunity to do college in Canada?”

Dr. Linda West

“Success in high school, basically and continuing your math, in some of the programs, right to the end of high school.  And if you haven’t carried math all the way through there are other programs that you could take.”

Candidates can visit Actyl in Belize City and apply for various jobs.  Once successful, employers will defray travel and initial expenses.

Reporting for News Five I am Isani Cayeatno.