Today marks the opening of the very first job fair for asylum seekers, presented by Accueil liaison pour arrivants (ALPA), with the financial support of the Quebec government. The event, which takes place at Plaza Antique in Montreal from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., gives about 1,500 asylum seekers who have or will soon have a work permit the chance to meet a few dozen employers that are seeking staff. The fair is being held in partnership with the Centre d’appui aux communautés immigrantes (CACI), the Centre d’accueil et de référence sociale et économique pour immigrants (CARI) and the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ).

The goal of this event is to quickly and efficiently address the labour shortage in Quebec by helping to create connections between employers looking for staff and job-seekers.

To facilitate job-matching, participants were given access to a recruitment application a few days before the in-person event. During the job fair, asylum seekers will have the opportunity to do interviews in real time, attend conferences and take part in workshops.

“Asylum seekers have the right to work, but most of the employers that we talk to aren’t aware of this, and those who are aware tell us they encounter administrative obstacles that make them less willing to hire asylum seekers. The job fair is an opportunity to inform employers and support them in recruiting and onboarding this motivated and committed workforce,” said Marie-Laure Konan, Executive Director of ALPA.