Government funding will help raise worker skill levels in grocery retail

TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ - Recognizing the need to develop a highly skilled and flexible workforce, the Government of Canada, through the Sector Council Program (SCP), has approved funding contributions to the Canadian Food Industry Council (CFIC) to develop free National Occupational Standards (NOS) for high volume and warehouse occupations in the grocery retail/wholesale sector.

"Employers will be able to use these standards to develop job descriptions and training plans, evaluate performance, and help employees achieve a professional level of competency," says Cheryl Paradowski, Executive Director of the CFIC. "These standards can also be used by educators and trainers to design training and education programs."

Scheduled for completion in fall 2011, the standards will be developed through consultation with members of the CFIC Board of Directors and the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council (CSCSC).

NOS are developed with the collective expertise of sector professionals from across Canada, and define the skills, knowledge and attitudes that an individual needs to perform competently in a given occupation.

Funded by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program, the CFIC is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that brings together representatives from business, labour, education, government and other professional groups in a spirit of cooperation to analyze and develop strategies and tools to address the human resource needs within the grocery retail and wholesale industry.

For further information: Michael Sloan, Communications Coordinator, [phone] Ext.24, 1-888-675-3115 Ext.24, Email: [email protected]