In just two months, 6,665 workers appealed to the program to help re-launch it through Increased Training (PARAF), which was set up by the Quebec government at the end of November to help them rehabilitate. In another sector or to acquire new skills in their field. field.

It exceeds our expectations! We see it really fulfills a needAccording to the Minister of Labor Jean Bouet.

So much so, that it extended the registration period by one month, until April 30, instead of March 31 as originally planned.

The extension was timely, as Statistics Canada announced Thursday that Quebec’s unemployment rate jumped to 8.8% in January.

Last December, the number of unemployed in Quebec was 306,000.

In total, Jean Bouillet expects to receive 20,000 registrations from Paraf, especially at a time when people will not be eligible for Canadian Economic Recovery (CPRE) or other employment insurance benefits.

Many young men and women

To date, 76% of enrollees are between the ages of 20 and 44.

These are relatively young workers, who have expressed an interest in filling the labor shortage in key sectors of the economy, such as information technology, health, construction or manufacturing.

Throughout the course, which is intended to be personal, counselors assist them with rehabilitation procedures and lead them to consider short-term training, while obtaining financial support to do so.

We see roughly so, says Minister Polet [les] deux tiers des personnes qui s’inscrivent le font dans des domaines avec attestations d’études professionnelles, donc des durées de 3-4 mois dans des centers de formation professionnelle, et l’autre tiers pour des attestations d’études collégiales de 6 à 9 months.

PARAF qualifications receive a $ 500 per week rehabilitation allowance while they train.

Improve your skills

It is also important to note that there is a skills enhancement component that particularly appeals to people who are being temporarily laid off in sectors that will be affected by the pandemic for the longest period.As Jean Bouet says.

those people They will eventually be called to work and can benefit from promotional opportunities through training that will enable them to improve their skills or develop new ones., He adds.

Minister Boullet says he is particularly concerned about the impact of the epidemic on women, as many are likely to lose their jobs. He finds that the first results of his program are encouraging, as 53% of those registered are women.