For the plumbers, electricians, carpenters, sheet metal workers, mechanics, welders, machinists, heavy equipment operators/mechanics, miners, oil drillers, power/waste/water plant operators, people who work with petroleum, gas, plastic, and rubber, refrigeration and air-con mechanics, crane operators, etc who want to move to a first-world country:
The Canadian Federal Skilled Trades Program is now open for application. Hurry! Only the first 3,000 complete applications will be processed. [See also Dec-2012 "News Release - New Federal Skilled Trades Immigration Program Receives Widespread Praise".]
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/apply-who.asp
Heck, maybe these China Chinese crane operators should consider leaving the exploitative labour situation in Singapore for first-world work conditions in Canada.
Don't get people all excited. Applicants have to sit IELTS and get an average score of 5 for each of the 4 sections. Shouldn't be too difficult for Singaporeans who have had up to sec 4 education, but it's still a test that cost S$300+ (maybe more now), and Singaporeans usually don't like tests.
ReplyDeleteHi CK,
DeleteWow, you've even drilled into the details!
IMHO, got chance better than no chance -- Singaporeans usually don't like tests, but somehow they often ace (or at least do comparatively well) at fixed format tests which can be practised, e.g. the IELTS!
Actual details from this webpage. Required CLB (Canadian test) level 5 for speaking and listening and 4 for reading and writing. IELTS equivalent is: 5.0 Listening, 3.5 Reading, 4.0 Writing, 5.0 Speaking.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/language-testing.asp
Actually, IMHO, the harder criteria to meet is "have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year** or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a provincial or territorial body".
Cheers, WD.