Canadian gov't urged to recognize academic credentials of Pinoy workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has urged the Canadian government to recognize academic credentials earned in the country to allow increased employment of Filipinos in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario recently conveyed this message to Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, MP Jason Kenney, during their meeting at Canada’s Parliament Hill.

Canada is facing a looming shortage in its labor force. A million jobs could be unfilled across Canada in sectors such as mining, oil, and health care by 2021.

Degrees earned in some foreign countries, including the Philippines, are downgraded when assessed in Canada, due to differences in curricula and required number of years.

For instance, a college graduate from the Philippines is considered as having completed only two years of college education in Canada.

Kenney praised the positive contributions of Filipinos coming to and settling in Canada who are boosting the country’s economy and enriching its culture and society.

He emphasized that part of Canada’s success as a country of immigration is its focus on high levels of human capital, or people who can move upwards in the economy.

Del Rosario said that Canada would continue to attract a greater number of Filipino workers in the coming years, as he noted that Filipinos share close affinity with traditional Canadian values of hard work, respect for tradition, devotion to family, religious tolerance, and adherence to the law.

The Philippines has been Canada’s largest source of temporary and skilled workers since 2010 (around 30,000 a year), beating India and China, which previously dominated Canada’s labor market.