The IOM office in Colombia and Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) of Canada
have completed the selection process for 172 Colombians who will
soon travel to Manitoba to work in one of the Company's food
processing plants.

The labour migration programme, implemented by IOM and MLF,
called for the workers to be selected in three weeks time in order
for them to be ready to travel to Canada in three groups starting
the month of August.

IOM and MLF worked closely with the Canadian Embassy in Bogota,
the Colombian Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (National Learning
Service) and three Mayors' Offices to complete the recruitment
process in good time.

Maple Leaf Foods processes and markets processed meats and
meals. It employs 25,000 workers in Canada, the United States,
Europe and Asia. Due to the lack of manual labour in Canada, MLF
has recruited workers from countries such as El Salvador, Ukraine,
Germany and China.

In addition to coordinating pre-selection and selection
activities, IOM's work included hiring qualified personnel to
perform medical examinations and to evaluate the candidates'
skills, as well as making arrangements for 120-hour English
classes, which the selected workers must take before travelling to
Canada. IOM also will provide support in obtaining travel documents
and visas, travel arrangements and accompany the migrants to
Canada.

The candidates selected are males aged between 22 and 35 years,
in good health, and with previous experience in food handling.

Other benefit to be provided by MLF to the selected workers will
be medical insurance, housing for the first month, the opportunity
for family reunification after completing eight months of
employment, and the possibility of obtaining permanent
residence.

MLF is considering working with other IOM Missions to recruit
personnel in other countries.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Andres Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel +57.311 5619495 or 57.1.622 77 74 ext. 114

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@oim.org.co">jgallo@oim.org.co