Front desk agents and clerks

Purpose

To address the critical skill shortage of workers in the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Industry, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will consider an employer’s business case for the select occupation of, Front Desk Agent/Clerk, defined as a NOC 6435 - C occupation. Eligible employers and semi-skilled employees shall meet the following criteria.

Criteria for Employers:

• An Employer must be a member in good standing with the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and adopt the associations prescribed practices with respect to hiring and employing foreign workers.
   
• An employer is eligible for 1 allocation per property, per year for the occupation of Front Desk Agent/Clerk.
   
• An Employer must provide support of increase in temporary foreign workers wage over the duration of the work permit indicating an increase in skills.
   
• An Employer must submit a Provincial Nominee (PN) Candidate who has the required qualifications, has demonstrated excellent work performance and will contribute to the long term success of the company.
   
• An Employer must possess a Service Canada Labour Market Opinion (LMO) Confirmation and meet the conditions such as salary and accommodation. If the employer has employed an individual on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, an LMO is not required.
   
• An Employer must ensure the PN Candidate is competent in listening, speaking, reading and writing English prior to nomination. An Employer is responsible for testing and establishing a benchmark of English language capability of the PN Candidate upon arrival.
   
• If the PN Candidate originated from an English speaking country or has completed secondary or post-secondary studies in English, the employer is not required to provide proof of PN Candidate competency in the English language.
   
• Should the PN Candidate not be competent in English, the employer must provide the PN Candidate with an in-house English as a Second Language (ESL) program or cover the cost of the ESL training for the PN Candidate. (See attached ESL guideline for Employers).

For more on ESL training programs, see the related links for a link to the ESL Guideline for Hotel and Lodging, Manufacturing and Trucking Industry

• An Employer must provide, in their application to the AINP, a plan outlining their approach to accommodation, settlement and retention for the PN Candidate from the time the PN Candidate commences employment with the employer. The plan shall demonstrate employer support and assistance toward successful integration of the workforce, community and society integration.

Criteria for Provincial Nominee (PN) Candidates:

• The PN Candidate must hold a valid work permit for the NOC occupational group of 6435, for the occupation title of Front Desk Agent/Clerk and be residing in Alberta.
   
• The PN Candidate must have completed a minimum of high school education.
   
• The PN Candidate must complete the emerit Professional Certification for the occupation of Front Desk Clerk. The PN Candidate may be exempt from completing the emerit Professional Certification if the PN Candidate has:
   
  • Completed one of the following levels of education in Alberta: diploma, degree or graduate level program from a publicly funded community college, trade/technical school or university, or at a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
     
  • Completed one of the following levels of education in Canada (outside the Province of Alberta): diploma, degree, or graduate level program from a publicly funded community college, trade/technical school or university.
     
• The PN Candidate must be employed in Alberta for a minimum of six months and meet or exceed all employer established work and performance standards before being nominated for the PNP.
   
• PN Candidates not competent in the English language must undergo ESL training from the time they arrive to work to when they become permanent residents. To be eligible for nomination the PN Candidate must submit proof of 85% attendance rate in the ESL training and must demonstrate a progress in learning.
   
• The PN Candidate must demonstrate integration into the local community.
   
• The PN Candidate must demonstrate the financial means or capability to pay for the costs of applying for permanent residency and establishing themselves and their family (if applicable) in Alberta.

Date Updated: Nov 10, 2008
RDP-670