Canada is renowned for being multicultural and for its booming hospitality industry, and in such an industry, commercial kitchen cleaners are an essential part of maintaining hygiene, cleanliness, and safety. The work is needed in restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and food processing plants all over Canada. Commercial kitchen cleaner careers are a cause of a good introduction for such immigrants who would like to start fresh in Canada and enjoy good job security and career prospects.
In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of commercial kitchen cleaner jobs in Canada with a work visa, covering the role’s responsibilities, visa options, salary expectations, and how to apply for these positions.
What Is a Commercial Kitchen Cleaner?
Commercial kitchen cleaners render restaurant, hotel, food plant, and catering company kitchens clean and sanitary. What they do is most vital to customers’ and workers’ health and safety in the kitchens. Where they work, what they do will vary a little, but most commercial kitchen cleaner work encompasses:
- Cleaning kitchen surfaces: Counters, tables, stovetops, and food preparation surfaces.
- Sanitizing equipment and utensils: Sanitized cooking equipment, utensils, and appliances in good working condition.
- Sweep the floors: Removing grease, trash, and spills from kitchen floors and food storage room floors.
- Clean air systems: Maintaining the range hoods, vents, and exhaust fans in clean and good condition.
- Trashing: Regularly emptying recyclable bins and trash cans.
- Sanitation and health standards: The guarantee that the kitchen meets cleanliness and hygiene standards as per the requirements of the health authorities.
- Deep cleaning: The periodic deep cleaning of the oven, refrigerator, and other heavy equipment that is used within the kitchen.
These activities are most likely to be performed under strict schedules and may include working morning-shift or night-shift hours early or late, particularly in restaurants with long hours.
Why Commercial Kitchen Cleaner Careers Are Needed in Canada?
Canada’s foodservice industry continues to expand, and restaurants, hotels, food plants, and catering facilities need skilled workers to maintain levels of hygiene and health. An increasing health awareness among Canadians requires food safety and cleanliness in the commercial kitchen.
Apart from that, Canada is facing a shortage of labor in certain industries, and commercial kitchen cleaning services are no exception. As most employers have relied on foreign workers to meet labor demands, there is strong demand for experienced kitchen cleaners, especially in high-demand provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Visa Options for Commercial Kitchen Cleaner Jobs in Canada
In order to work in Canada, the foreign workers must possess a valid work visa. Most frequently obtained types of visas for commercial kitchen cleaners are:
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program permits Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals to do the job when there are no Canadians available to undertake the same. Commercial kitchen cleaners usually hire under the TFWP, especially during labor shortages.
To qualify to apply under the TFWP:
- Job Offer: You must have a secured job offer from a Canadian employer.
- Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Your employer must apply for and obtain an LMIA, showing that they were not able to find a Canadian citizen to do the job.
- Work Permit Application: Based on your LMIA approval, you can apply for a work permit to work in Canada legally.
The TFWP is a temporary visa but can be steered to permanent residence by meeting some conditions, like passing through the Express Entry system.
International Mobility Program (IMP)
International Mobility Program grants workers the exemption to hire workers from outside Canada without requiring an LMIA. The worker is eligible for that worker with specific requirements, such as the worker who is working in short supply professions or workers under a trade agreement, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- For commercial kitchen cleaning products, the IMP may be utilized where the employer is involved in a business or regional development program that issues work permits but without the need for the LMIA process.
Working Holiday Visa (Open Work Permit)
For the young people of some nations, the Working Holiday Visa is a great chance to work in Canada and also stay overseas. Under this visa, you can work in any field either for one year or two based on the nation you belong to originally.
- Although it’s low-skilled labor, commercial kitchen cleaner is one of the working holiday visa available jobs. It’s quite a popular option among Canada travelers and short-term hospitality experience.
Express Entry System
Although not strictly a cleaning job visa, the Express Entry System still offers a pathway to permanent residency for qualified Canadian workers. If you have a job under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or other temporary worker visa, you can earn points under Canadian work experience and thus be well-placed to become permanent residents.
How to Become A Permanent Resident Through Express Entry
To qualify, you will require:
- Work experience: A one-year full-time employment in Canada under a temporary work visa.
- Language proficiency: You will need to pass the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for either English or French.
- Education qualification: No education is needed for commercial kitchen cleaners, but a high school diploma or above will be advantageous for marking.
You need to create a profile in the Express Entry pool, and your score will determine an invitation to become a permanent resident.
How Much Commercial Kitchen Cleaners Earn in Canada?
Commercial kitchen cleaners in Canada earn varying amounts based on employer, province, and experience. The average wage for commercial kitchen cleaners is:
- Hourly Wage: CAD $14 to CAD $18 an hour
- Regular Monthly Salary: CAD $2,500 – CAD $3,200
- Annual Salary: CAD $30,000 – CAD $40,000
Salaries will also be offered on another scale in large cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, especially to those who are employed in luxury hotels, big restaurants, or food factories. Those who are employed in peripheral rural or remote areas will be offered slightly lower salaries but can enjoy benefits like house or traveling allowance.
Where Are the Best Locations to Get Commercial Kitchen Cleaner Career Opportunities in Canada?
Commercial kitchen cleaner jobs are available everywhere in the nation, particularly in the major cities and tourist spots. Some of the best locations to get work in this type of career are:
- Ontario: The Toronto, Ottawa, and suburbs region has high demand for hospitality employees due to the large number of hotels and restaurants.
- British Columbia: Vancouver and Victoria have a booming food industry and lots of opportunity in catering and the hospitality sector.
- Alberta: Calgary and Edmonton both have year-round high market demand for cleaners in hotel and resort kitchens as well as in food factory kitchens.
- Quebec: Montreal and Quebec City are full of restaurants and cafes, and the demand for cleaners is constant.
- Manitoba and Saskatchewan: Although farming provinces have less employment vacancies, there are also opportunities for work in rural towns and agriculture.
How to Apply for Commercial Kitchen Cleaner Jobs in Canada
To apply for commercial kitchen cleaner jobs in Canada, follow the steps below:
- Prepare Your Resume: Highlight any previous work experience you have, i.e., food service, housekeeping, or hospitality. If you have none, being a dependable employee, good listener, and adhering to cleaning protocols can be mentioned.
- Job Hunting: Use Canadian job hunting websites such as Job Bank, Indeed, and LinkedIn to search for job postings. Most companies also post jobs on their individual company websites.
- Direct Application to Companies: For small business firms, as a method of getting commercial kitchen cleaner jobs, direct application would be successful either by personally going to the establishments or by submitting your resume.
- Job Offer: After getting a job offer, arrange with your employer and apply for the relevant work permit. Have your employer get the required documents for the LMIA (where it applies).
- Obtain the Work Permit: If your employer requires an LMIA, they must apply and be approved first before you can apply for your work permit. As soon as the IMP is organized, you can apply for a work permit immediately.
- Organize Your Canadian Move: Organize your move after approval has been granted for your visa. Look into accommodation, transportation, and cost of living in the region where you will be employed.
Final Thoughts
Canadian restaurant kitchen cleaner positions provide a genuine gateway to immigrants who are eager to be engaged in Canadian hospitality employment. Not only can the work open the doors to steady pay and the rewards of employment, but also quite possibly an opportunity to gain Canadian work experience, which may pave the way to permanent residency in the future.
With so many visas to apply for, like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Working Holiday Visa, international workers from all over the world are able to gain access to work as commercial kitchen cleaners. Immigrants offering to perform the work to obtain the appropriate visa and to gain working opportunities enables immigrants to settle effectively in Canada and become a valuable contribution to Canada’s foodservice industry.