SHERBROOKE: At a press conference recently organized by Emploi-Québec Estrie, Jean-Luc Trahan (President of la Commission des partenaires du marché du travail – CPMT) underlined the addition of Sherbrooke company ANIMAT Inc. to the list of companies who have signed an agreement focusing on the development of the work skills of Quebec workers.

Trahan also took this opportunity to invite other companies in the area to participate in this movement. He also indicated that involved companies have made an important decision -- “the development of labour competencies constitutes an essential and profitable investment rather than expenditure; it allows the workers, in collaboration with invested companies, to adapt to the fluctuations of the labour market, increasing their competitiveness”.

Guy Couture, director/manager of ANIMAT Inc., attested to the involvement of his company and added that “the development of the human capital represents a strategic move” and invited other companies to take the same step so that they, too, can help develop a culture of lifelong learning possibilities. 

Launched in February 2012 by Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, in collaboration with Emploi-Québec, the ‘Investissement-compétences’ initiative aims at creating the involvement of both companies and workers in creating activities geared to improvements in work environment. In this respect, the government of Quebec issues a certificate of recognition to those companies which request the program and show the will to integrate such a program within their business practice. To date, more than 3,000 employers throughout Quebec have signed this type of certificate.

This initiative has a budgetary envelope of $212M. The contribution of the CPMT to this strategic plan represents a new impetus involving partners who share the same concerns about being able to answer the current challenges of the skilled-labour force. The goal of this program is to increase the abilities of workers in companies throughout Quebec. To this end, the CPMT works to enhance and improve innovative measures through grant programs: increased access to grants regardless of the size of the company payroll and increased support for the training and qualification of seasonal workers.

For more information on the ‘Investissement-compétences’ program, please consult the website: www.i-competences.gouv.qc.ca. Since 1997, la Commission des partenaires du marché du travail has worked with organizations directly touched by issues involving the employment and development of the work force. The results of this collaboration serve to advise ‘la ministre de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité’ on defining the direction of Emploi-Québec and establishing guidelines on the development and recognition of the skills of the workforce (Loi sur les compétences) as a means of promoting an increase in business productivity and the rate of employment.