In Estrie, this trend towards relocation does not appeal to Artopex, one of the main players in the sector. This manufacturer operates four plants in Quebec and has nearly 500 employees. Instead, the company relies on its in-house expertise and training to deal with the labor shortage. When production slows down in a factory, Artopex temporarily transfers certain tasks elsewhere.
Our factory in Sherbrooke specializes in the manufacture of chairs, but here they are partly produced in Laval, even if the factory usually specializes in the manufacture of metal furniture.
explains Philippe Gosselin, Marketing Director.
Artopex invests heavily in the development of new technologies and in the automation of certain processes. The company also uses foreign labor very competent and willing to work in Quebec
selon M. Gosselin.
This is the main issue. The government must continue and increase its efforts. We really need to facilitate the hiring and integration process for resources arriving from outside Canada
he argues.
Hiring retirees
The Artopex recipe works well for him, but this formula seems inaccessible to other furniture manufacturers who have fewer resources. For Les Pliages Maskinongé inc., which has less than 20 employees and a single plant, the solution is to bring retirees back into the labor market.
I have an employee who had been retired for five years with a big pension, but he was bored. He needed to move, to do something else. He started working with us and he even convinced his wife to join him
says the owner, Monia Lacasse.
According to Ms. Lacasse, these retirees who decide to extend their careers provide reliable services and allow her company to continue its activities in a difficult context. She regrets, however, that they have to pay taxes or receive reduced pensions.
Pay tax? Why? They have paid taxes all their lives. Nor should their pensions be reduced. This is a big obstacle to returning to the labor market. They want to work, let them!
she exclaims with a smile.
Fewer penalties for seniors
Monia Lacasse’s words resonate with Paul Legault, former president of the Réseau FADOQ en Estrie, the largest seniors’ organization in Canada.
Throughout his mandate, he campaigned for the government to stop collecting taxes as soon as a retiree decides to extend his career. Even if he recognizes the validity of the tax credits already in effect, he is asking for an exemption.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Il faudrait une exemption dès le départ. Par exemple, la première tranche de15000$ should not be taxed. After that, yes, you pay taxes”,”text”:”There should be an exemption from the start. For example, the first $15,000 should not be taxed. After that, yes, you pay tax”}}”>There should be an exemption from the start. For example, the first $15,000 should not be taxed. After that, yes, you pay taxhe said.
Career extension is therefore one of the solutions chosen to deal with the lack of personnel. For the time being, this solution allows certain companies to remain well established in Quebec.
According to’AFMQthe furniture industry represents nearly 25,000 direct jobs across the country in more than 500 companies.
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