http://www.7newsbelize.com/index.shtml#8

Viva la Canadien!

Dead link... think this is the right one:
http://www.7newsbelize.com/archive/09260708.html

Canadian Company Wants 100 Belizean Meat Cutters
posted (September 26, 2007)

And while the Image Factory wanted creativity, a company in Canada wants meat cutters. So if you can’t wait around to earn that $500 art prize next year, the Department of Labour has a curious job opportunity. It’s for a meat cutter who would work in a Canadian Slaughterhouse for two years. The Canadians are looking for 100 Belizeans between the ages of 24 and 35 who are married, with less than three children, and who have a high school diploma to fill the post. It pays thirteen Canadian dollars an hour and applicants would be assisted in getting a visa. Merilyn Young, the National Coordinator of Employment and Enterprise Development explained.

Merilyn Young, Ministry of Labor
“The duties and responsibilities of the persons will be to work like ina slaughterhouse where you will be dealing with cattle and also to look at the agro-processing part of it so it is basically slaughter-housing if you want to look at it and also agro-processing.”

Keith Swift,
Why do they want Belizean meat cutters?

Merilyn Young,
“Keith you have companies in Canada, for example this same company also does recruiting in other countries all over the world. One of the advantages that Belize comes with is that we speak English.”

Keith Swift,
Aren’t you taking away labor from Belize? Driving labor away?

Merilyn Young,
“I think it is something that we need to look at in reference to brain drain if you want to look at it that way. This is a job for a person that is not really a skilled area, so you are not really taking away from anything.”

“I don’t think that the exportation of the labor force will create any serious damage. I think actually it will help. When you look at the salary that these people will be making, thirteen Canadian dollars is a approximately the same amount in U.S. dollars and working forty hours a week, you can’t beat that type of salary so we are encouraging Belizeans that want to improve their quality of life that is not employed, that meets the qualifications to come in and apply for it.”

Those who are interested can contact employment officers in Orange Walk, Belize City, Belmopan and San Ignacio.

I wonder if the company also plans to house these people. At $2100/mo., they may find it hard to make ends meet.

Rent will probably run around $1000/mo for a place large enough for the family. Rental properties do not always come furnished. Generally, utilities are not included (or portions of the utilities).

There are individual rooms in people's homes that can be rented for around $400/500 a month. But those are for single renters.

The people will need winter clothes, not an inconsiderable expense. That said, things can be picked up at Value Village and there are other helpful/charitable outlets.

Groceries for a family for a month will run a minimum of $600, and they may even need a car.

All that said, there are many people living in this province that only make $13/hour and some even less than that.

I know I couldn't even fathom attempting to live on that kind of money, but then, my life has given me many advantages and opportunities which have translated into expectations and a lifestyle of reasonable comfort and some excess.

Fortunately, Belizeans know how to stretch a dollar. They don't mind small sq. footage and they can make chicken and rice and beans seem like steak. I'm sure $13 an hour would definitely raise an eyebrow for them.