A business group in Richmond hopes to connect refugees with local restaurant owners, to provide working opportunities for refugees while addressing labour shortages in the restaurant industry.
“Restaurant owners need employees and newcomers need jobs. It will be a win-win,” said Sunny Ho, president of the Business Association of Richmond.
Working with social service organization MOSAIC, the association plans to invite 250 newcomers, mostly Syrian refugees, to attend a free dinner with 250 Richmond restaurant owners on Sept. 30.
“We want to bridge the employers and employees, and provide opportunities for newcomers to know about the businesses and business owners in Richmond,” said Ho. “Also to tell newcomers that you are welcome to live and find a job in the community of Richmond.”
Ho hopes this initiative will help refugees find jobs, as well as address the problem of workforce shortages in the restaurant industry.
“I know some restaurant owners have to work themselves because they can’t find employees. There are not enough people applying. Sometimes restaurants have to compete for workers,” said Ho.
According to the data from the B.C. Asian Restaurant Cafe Owners Association, there is a shortage of more than 500 employees in their members’ restaurants. This is a deficit of 15 per cent of all employees for its members, said Ho.
“The business environment is so good in Richmond and we have about 15 big restaurants with more than 100 seats opening every year. There is a big demand for employees,” he said.
Chris Friesen, settlement services director at the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., said it is an innovative approach to have refugees work in restaurants in Richmond, and can have win-win results if things proceed well, but language and commutes can be two major challenges.
“Most refugees are focusing on learning English right now. Do they have the language ability to effectively work on the jobs?
“Also, most of the refugees live in Surrey. It will take a long time to transfer from there to Richmond every day. And it’s too expensive for them to live in Richmond making minimum wage,” said Friesen.
He suggests employers provide on-site English training during lunch time or the time before and after work, so employees don’t have to make a choice between going to an English class or having a job.
He also advises employers to arrange for pick-up and drop-off shuttle services for workers who live far away.
According to an Immigrant Services Society of B.C. report released in December 2016, 17 per cent of refugees in B.C. found jobs in their first year here. Refugees’ federal government subsidies end after one year of landing. Then they need to find a job or apply for B.C. social assistance.
Ho said the Business Association of Richmond is happy to offer training and further support to both employees and employers to help them better work together.
“We can teach those who are going to work in Chinese restaurants both English and Chinese; at the same time, we will teach business owners Arabic and Muslim culture,” said Ho.
Ho said some restaurant owners tend to hire people within their own culture, but “we tell them that it is important to open their minds to people with different backgrounds, otherwise they will not have enough of a workforce and their business will be weakened and fade away.”
Most restaurant owners in Richmond are excited about the Sept. 30 dinner and future cooperation, said Ho.
To accommodate guests from different cultural and religious backgrounds, no alcohol will be served at the dinner and a variety of foods will be available for vegetarians. Plus, all the meat and seafood will be halal processed to cater to Islamic culture, according to Ho.
Live entertainment will also be provided by members of the Business Association of Richmond and newcomers at the party.
