For the first time in the history of Canada, the visa procedures for migration, employment and tourism to the country are stalled as the Canada’s foreign officers have gone on a worldwide strike. If the strike persists, Kerala would suffer as the state has many potential migrants to Canada.
It was on July 29 that the Foreign Service officers serving both inside and outside the country decided to go for a strike protesting against unequal pay. Barring contingency work, the officers are not undertaking any other work.
This is the first of its kind strike in the country since the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) was created 46 years ago, said Paulose Mathew, chairman of the Kerala chapter of the Travel Agents Federation of India.
“PAFSO claims that officers are paid less than their other government counterparts, despite performing similar kind of work. Majority of the PAFSO members participating in the strike work for Canadian visa offices around the world.
Owing to this, the application procedures will experience delays”, he said.
The countries most sought after by Indian migrants are New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Canada has become a haven for foreign population, mainly for the reason that they have filled only about 25 per cent of the manpower requirement with the foreign population. In New Zealand, the opportunities are saturated as the country has filled up their requirements with the foreign population and Australia still has opportunities. But it is Canada that is abounding in various prospects.
“The country has strong infrastructure with wide range of properties. They are financially stable. Hence such a strike is a knock out punch for the immigrants and the students alike”, he said.