Meat Cutter Worker

 Company Background

This company is a leading Canadian food processor, exporting to more than 80 countries worldwide.   

This company employs more than 20,000 people in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. In 2003, total company sales exceeded 5,000,000,000 Canadian dollars.

It operates more than 70 processing plants around the world.  This job opportunity is in one of its pork processing plants.

Community Profile

The jobs are located in a small city of 14,000 people.  

Homes in this city are currently priced from $40,000 to $150,000 with the average selling price, based on a 1,000 square foot home, of $63,500.  Average rental price of a two-bedroom apartment is $375.00 per month (four persons to an apartment).

You will be responsible for renting your own apartment. We suggest sharing an apartment with several co-workers.  Please note that the company will introduce you to several available apartments for rent when you first arrive.  

Job Duties and Responsibilities

You will be working in one of the most advanced pork processing plants in the world.  Most of your work will be done with knives or saws.  Cutting pork and meat products is your job.  Safety equipment and very strict safety standards prevent nearly all potential for cutting yourself in any job position.  Nonetheless, a few people are truly knife-shy and cannot work in this environment.  If you would be in this group, you probably shouldn't apply for work at this company.

The following is a summary of main duties for a meat cutter at this company:

• Industrial butchers slaughter livestock using stunning devices and knives; skin, clean and trim carcasses; remove viscera and other inedible parts from carcasses; split carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling; and may pigs as prescribed by religious laws. 

• Industrial meat cutters cut beef, lamb, pork or veal carcasses or sides or quarters of carcasses into primal cuts for further cutting, processing or packaging; remove bones from meat; and cut meat and poultry into specific cuts for institutional, commercial or other wholesale use. 

• Trimmers remove skin, excess fat, bruises or other blemishes from carcasses or meat portions.

Work Hours

While the company cannot guarantee 40 hours every week -- we estimate that, over the course of a year, you will average around 42 to 44 hours per week.  Typically, shifts are 8 to 9 hours in length (usually 8 for most areas), and we work up to 20 weeks per year where Saturdays are mandatory.  

Shift Work

The company has two main shifts, "A" and "B".  The "A" shift runs from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. while the "B" shift runs 4:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m..  There is no night shift in these production areas (a cleaning crew sanitizes the plant every night during the late hours).  

Qualifications

• Both men and women are encouraged to apply.  Please note that roughly 40% of the workers in the plant are female.  

• Married and have a child

• Only one parent from the family is initially allowed to go and work in Canada

• High School Diploma or Technical Vocational School

• 28 years old or older

• Ability to handle tough physical labour and be able to stand working for long periods of time

• Good Health – you will be required to pass a health test

• No Criminal Record

• Willingness to study and learn English

•  No previous work experience is required

With very few exceptions, your size (if you are in good physical health) is not a determining factor in being hired.  The company’s training department attempts to place workers in areas where their size and skills are best suited to the job.

Work Permit Program and Immigration Opportunity

Each successful applicant will receive a one-year work permit to work at this company but will receive a job offer for two years.  

Workers who display good attitudes, work safely and efficiently and are good examples to other employees will be offered an opportunity for their family and themselves to permanently immigrate to Canada after six months of successful work.  At this time, employment at the processing plant may also be offered to their spouse when they arrive from the Philippines.  If the applicant does not wish to immigrate, their work permit will be renewed in the second year.

This is an excellent opportunity for Philippine families who wish to provide a better life and education for their children.    

Wages

The company pays its workers bi-weekly (every 2^nd Friday).  You should expect an average of $1300.00 Canadian per month.  

You must be able to handle tough physical labour that is part of most of the jobs at this company.