There’s a lot of talk about the labor shortage and the difficulty of recruiting qualified staff. More and more SMEs are turning to foreign workers, as SpaceKap has. Hiring immigrants is one thing, but knowing how to support and, most importantly, retain them is a different challenge entirely.
Key Takeaways
- SpaceKap employs more than 50 foreign workers, over 75% of the factory’s technical staff.
- The company runs 9 vans to shuttle workers between Montreal, Longueuil, and its Beloeil plant.
- Support covers immigration paperwork, housing, transportation, language classes, and team activities like the Fibro-Cup.
What does it actually take to support a foreign worker after hiring?
It takes real organization and resources to keep new workers at the company and help them adapt to a new country. The obstacles are significant: assisting with bureaucracy and immigration forms, work permit renewals, and medical appointments. Often, the company has to find them housing and arrange transportation morning and evening.
These workers also need connection outside of work. “I organize various activities such as soccer tournaments, outings to pick apples, or bowling. They’re part of our employee integration program, which helps build connections among them.”
Most immigrants at SpaceKap come from Latin American countries like Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala, and only speak Spanish when they arrive in Canada. SpaceKap relies on Maria Mayorga, specialized in talent acquisition, to take care of them. “The factory workers call me mom. Especially those we recruited from abroad, because they arrive without any reference point. I’m in contact with them even before their arrival. It requires a lot of time and planning. My role isn’t limited to job interviews. It also requires a great deal of open-mindedness from SpaceKap’s managers,” she says.
Why does integration matter so much for retention?
SpaceKap employs more than 50 foreign workers, accounting for over 75 percent of the technical staff in the factory. Once hired, the company has to help them integrate into their new environment. “It’s difficult for them, especially when they come alone, without their immediate family. I help them acclimatize and look out for them. In the end, the goal is employee retention. We want them to stay at SpaceKap, to progress professionally, and to fulfill themselves.”
How does SpaceKap handle transportation for its workforce?
Another challenge companies hiring foreign workers face is transportation. Unless a business sits on the island of Montreal or in a large center with developed public transit, it has to move its workers itself.
SpaceKap purchased nine vans to transport its fifty workers. The factory is located in Beloeil, on the south shore of Montreal, and most employees live in Montreal. “I manage the fleet and ensure the transportation of each of them. Our shuttles pick them up at strategic points in Montreal and Longueuil. At the end of their workday, we safely bring them back. And for those who work evenings, we drop them off directly at their homes.”
Why does language training matter for safety, not just communication?
Learning a new language in the workplace is crucial, first for economic reasons, to ensure good communication between a foreign worker, their colleagues, and their supervisors, but also to guarantee the health and safety of everyone on the floor. “Our employees have made the effort to train and communicate with them, which was quite a challenge that was successfully met. Today, they all attend classes before or after their shifts. They’re aware that to obtain permanent resident status, they must be able to communicate in this language and then be able to bring their families,” Maria Mayorga adds proudly.
This is one story in a broader series on how SpaceKap supports its workforce, including its approach to promoting from within.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foreign workers does SpaceKap employ?
SpaceKap employs more than 50 foreign workers, who make up over 75% of the technical staff at its Beloeil factory.
How do SpaceKap’s foreign workers get to and from the factory?
SpaceKap operates nine shuttle vans that pick up workers at strategic points in Montreal and Longueuil and bring them home after their shift.
Does SpaceKap help foreign workers learn French?
Yes. Workers attend language classes before or after their shifts, both for workplace safety and because permanent resident status requires being able to communicate in the language.
