This section includes information about organizations that help people find employment, where to look for a job, as well as find out about professional accreditation and licensing. You can learn about the Employment Standards Branch, which explains and enforces laws on fair employment practices in Manitoba. There is also information about health and safety, Employment Insurance, income assistance programs, as well as business resources and child day care.

Looking for Work

It is not easy to find a job, even if you were born in Canada. It can be especially frustrating for newcomers. Many employers want to hire people with good English language skills and previous Canadian work experience. Fortunately, there are many free English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes in Manitoba. There are also Job Preparation Programs and volunteer work experience opportunities to help you acquire Canadian work experience. These programs are listed below. Information on EAL programs can be found in the Learning English section.

If you have a high school diploma or post-secondary education from outside Canada and wish to have your credentials assessed, contact:

Manitoba Labour and Immigration
500 - 213 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3B 1N3
Phone: (204) 945-6300

If you want to pursue a career in the trades, contact the Apprenticeship Branch at Manitoba Education and Training - www.edu.gov.mb.ca/aet/apprent/index.htm .

Some job preparation programs also offer academic upgrading as part of their training.

For help finding a job, contact one of these employment service providers for newcomers:

Employment Projects of Winnipeg offers specialized employment preparation and job search programs for immigrants of varying skill levels, including highly skilled, semi-skilled, trades and entry level jobs.  They also offer computer classes.

Employment Projects of Winnipeg Inc.
990 - 167 Lombard Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3B 3E5
Phone: (204) 949-5300
Email: info@epw.ca
Web Site: http://www.epw.ca

International Centre of Winnipeg offers initial employment, vocational and educational counseling and job search assistance for immigrants with lower levels of English language skills.  They offer adult education, training and career exploration.

International Centre of Winnipeg
406 Edmonton Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 2M2
Phone: (204) 943-9158
Email: info@international-centre.ca
Web Site: www.international-centre.ca 

Success Skills Centre offers specialized employment and career counseling assistance for immigrant professionals.  They offer intensive job search preparation workshops and job search support.  In addition, they have a computer resource centre and job-related training.

Success Skills Centre
440 - 500 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3X1
Phone: (204) 975-5111
Email: ssc@successskills.mb.ca
Web Site: www.successskills.mb.ca

Many job openings are advertised in the Classified section of local newspapers. Others are listed on a computerized job bank at Human Resource and Skill Development Canada (HRSD) centres. You can also find job banks at Portage Place and Garden City Shopping Centres,  Osborne Village Resource Centre, as well as on the internet – www.jobbank.gc.ca . To find out about job openings call toll free 1-800-523-4732*. If you have professional training, you can also contact professional organizations and associations. 

If you are interested in jobs with the federal, provincial or municipal governments, you can call ACCESS 1-2-3 at (204) 984-4636. Outside Winnipeg, call toll free 1-800-878-3544.*

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Professional Accreditation and Licensing

The Settlement and Labour Market Services Branch of Manitoba Labour and Immigration has information on over 70 trades and professions in Manitoba. They also offer an Academic Credentials Assessment Service to evaluate education and experience in some professions obtained outside Canada. The Credentials Recognition Program works with immigrant professionals and licensing bodies to enable newcomers to obtain employment in their profession. Make an appointment to discuss the assessment process, educational and work experience requirements. For more information contact:

Settlement and Labour Market Services Branch
Manitoba Labour and Immigration
5th floor – 213 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3B 1N3
Phone: (204) 945-6300 Fax: 948-2148
Web Site: www.immigratemanitoba.com

Financial Supports
If you need financial support in order to take training, or at your job, you can explore these financial supports (pdf).

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Manitoba Employment Standards

Manitoba has laws that promote fairness in the workplace for employers and employees. The Employment Standards Branch enforces laws on minimum wages, hours of work, holidays and other workplace benefits. (The Minimum wage in Manitoba is $7.60 per hour, regardless of age). The Branch investigates violations of these laws. For further information contact:

Employment Standards Branch
Manitoba Labour and Immigration
604 – 401 York Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 0P8
Phone: (204) 945-3352 Fax: 948-3046
Toll Free: 1-800-821-4307*
Beausejour: (204) 268-6042
Brandon: (204) 726-6370
Thompson: (204) 677-6664
Web Site: www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/

* Toll free means that you do not have to pay for the long distance phone call. It will not appear on your phone bill.

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Health and Safety

If you think that your work or workplace is affecting your health or you want to learn more about how to prevent workplace accidents or illnesses, call the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) Occupational Health Centre. Their services are free.

The MFL Occupational Health Centre is a community health centre. It is funded by the provincial government. It helps workers, unions, employers and health care professionals to improve workplace health and safety conditions. They can help you find out if your workplace or job is making you sick. They can help figure out what can be done about the problem. For more information, call:

MFL Occupational Health Centre
102 – 275 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 4M6
Phone: (204) 949-0811
E-mail: mflohc@mflohc.mb.ca
Web Site: www.mflohc.mb.ca

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Employment Insurance (EI)

Employment Insurance provides financial assistance to people who have lost their jobs. When people work, the federal government automatically deducts a percentage of their income, and places it in an EI fund (account). Employees can receive money from this fund if they are laid off from their job. The money pays for living costs while they are looking for work, sick or pregnant. If a person is on EI and needs retraining to get another job, they may be able to take a training program.

Contact any Human Resource and Skills Development Canada (HRSD) centre for more information about Employment Insurance. Look in the grey section of the telephone book, under Government of Canada or visit their web site at If you have a problem with your Employment Insurance claim, contact: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml.

If you have a problem with your Employment Insurance claim, contact the:

Community Unemployed Help Centre
501 – 275 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 4M6
Phone: (204) 942-6556 / Fax: 947-9557
E-mail: cuhc@cuhc.mb.ca
Web Site: www.cuhc.mb.ca

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Income Support Programs

Any permanent resident of Manitoba (except those who are sponsored) who needs money for food, clothing or rent, can apply for financial assistance from the Manitoba government. Sponsored individuals are eligible for assistance only under certain circumstances. Two types of assistance are available:

a) Resettlement Assistance
This program helps government sponsored refugees. It is available from:

Settlement Unit
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
4th floor, 25 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg MB R3C 4S9
Phone: 1-888-242-2100

b) Employment and Income Assistance
This is a provincial government program that helps people who don't have enough money to pay for basic needs such as food, clothing, personal items and household supplies; housing or utilities; or medical expenses. Wherever possible, the program helps people find a job or get back to work. For more information, contact:

Manitoba Family Services and Housing
111 Rorie Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 1A1
Phone: (204) 948-4000
Web Site: www.gov.mb.ca/fs/assistance/eia.html

Outside Winnipeg:

• Beausejour – (204) 268-6028
• Brandon – (204) 726-6438
• Dauphin – (204) 622-2040
• Flin Flon – (204) 687-1600
• Morden – (204) 822-2870
• Portage la Prairie – (204) 239-3060
• Selkirk – (204) 785-5105
• Swan River – (204) 734-3491
• The Pas – (204) 627-8311
• Thompson – (204) 677-6713

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Business Resources

Many new Canadians choose to own and operate their own business. Many resources are available to help them. They can take a course on how to start a business, followed by programs on how to operate a business, how to calculate business tax, when and where to pay taxes and how to hire staff. Many banks and credit unions offer special services and loans to new business owners. For further information contact:

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Child Day Care

The law states that no children under 12 years of age can be left at home alone. However, parents often need someone to take care of their children when they go to work or school. A variety of infant, pre-school and school age child care programs are available for children from 12 weeks to 12 years of age.

There is often a waiting list for child care space. Therefore it is important to begin looking for child care as soon as you begin looking for work. Ask people you know what arrangements they have for their children's care. Look for child care centres and family day care homes near your home. The Manitoba Child Day Care Office and Manitoba Child Care Association can also help you find child care.

The government regulates official day care businesses. Day cares must have licences and staff who are certified to care for children. Parents with a low income may be eligible for a government day care subsidy, which means the government pays part of the fee and the parents pay the rest.

Some family day cares are not licensed. They set their own price rates. Parents who use these services are not eligible for government subsidies. For more information contact:

You can find a list of Licensed Family Day Care Homes in the Classified section of the Winnipeg Free Press every Saturday.

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Links

• Job Search Web Sites
  • Manitoba WorkinfoNet – Web Site: www.mb.workinfonet.ca
  • Manitoba Civil Service Commission – Web Site: www.gov.mb.ca/csc/index.html
  • Human Resources and Skills Development Canada – Web Site: www.hrsdc.gc.ca
  • Public Service Commission of Canada – Web Site: www.psc-cfp.gc.ca
  • City of Winnipeg – Web Site: www.winnipeg.ca
• Apprenticeship Branch – Web Site: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/aet/apprent/apprenticeshiptrades/mbtrades.htm
• Employment Insurance - http://www.ei-ae.gc.ca/en/ceic/ceic_home.shtml
• Federal Job Site - Web Site: http://www.jobsetc.ca/home_e.html
• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba: http://www.wcb.mb.ca

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