DEPARTMENT OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND LABOUR

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour.html

Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities

Employment Development Offices
The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL) has several employment offices located around the province to assist New Brunswick citizens with their employment goals. Our staff can help you search for permanent employment, starting with an employment action plan. Based on your interests, skills and hopes for the future, our staff will help you define career goals and assist in making a plan to achieve them. Contact your regional employment office today to get started towards your employment goals.

Bathurst
300 – 275 Main Street
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Telephone: (506) 549-5766
Fax: (506) 549-5782

Campbellton
100 – 157 Water Street
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Telephone: (506) 789-2411
Fax: (506) 759-6696

Caraquet
Place Bellevue 20E St-Pierre Ouest Blvd.
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Telephone: (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 726-2728

Dieppe
320 – 200 Champlain Street
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Telephone: (506) 869-6944
Fax: (506) 869-6608

Edmundston
Carrefour Assomption
308 – 121 de l’Église Street
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Telephone: (506) 735-2677
Fax: (506) 735-2527

Fredericton
300 St. Mary’s Street
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Telephone: (506) 453-2377
Fax: (506) 444-5189

Grand Falls
101 – 160 Réservoir Street
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Telephone: (506) 475-4025
Fax: (506) 473-7574

Miramichi
152 Pleasant Street
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Telephone: (506) 627-4000
Fax : (506) 624-5482

Neguac
430 Principale Street
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Telephone: (506) 776-3996
Fax: (506) 776-3807

Perth-Andover
19 Station Street
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Telephone: (506) 273-4559
Fax: (506) 273-2195

Richibucto
25 Cartier Blvd.
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Telephone: (506) 523-7602
Fax: (506) 523-4633

Sackville
170 Main Street, Unit C-1
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Telephone: (506) 869-6944
Fax: (506) 364-4304

Saint John
1 Agar Place
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Telephone: (506) 643-7258
Fax: (506) 643-7443

Shediac
Centreville Mall 144 – 342 Main Street
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Telephone: (506) 533-3325
Fax(506) 533-3340

Shippagan
182 J.D. Gauthier Blvd
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Telephone: (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 336-3036

St. Stephen
Ganong Place 202 – 73 Milltown Blvd.
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Telephone: (506) 466-7627
Fax (506) 466-7462

Sussex
707 Main Street
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Telephone: (506) 432-2110
Fax : (506) 432-6169

Tracadie
3514 Principale Street, 2nd Floor
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Telephone: (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 394-3813

Woodstock
201 – 111 Chapel Street
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Telephone: (506) 325-4406
Fax: (506) 325-4491

Training and Skills Development (TSD)

Training and Skills Development (TSD) program has been introduced in an effort to ensure that case managed individuals, whose employment action plan identifies skill development as being necessary, have access to funding to assist them in achieving their goal.

A participant must have an Employment Action Plan that has been developed with a Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Employment Counsellor, who will determine eligibility based on program criteria.

The training must:

• be a required component of a participant’s Employment Action Plan
• lead to sustainable employment

Training and skills Development (TSD) selectively provides grants to people who meet the program criteria. The focus of the program is to help clients receive training or educational programs which will allow them to return quickly to work.

The TSD duration is limited to:

• a maximum of two consecutive years for a regular post-secondary training program
• a maximum of one year for academic upgrading for grade levels 7 to 9 and two consecutive years for grade levels 10 to 12
• a maximum of 10 weeks for levels 5-6 and a maximum of 12 weeks for GED preparation
• a maximum of three consecutive years for a co-operative training program

The level of TSD funding is determined by an Employment Counsellor and may cover a portion of tuition and books as well as other training expenses. Contact the Department’s local Employment Regional Office to find out how TSD can become a component of your Employment Action Plan.

Training and Employment Support Services (TESS) – Employment Services

Training and Employment Support Services assists individuals with permanent or long-term disabilities to gain access to training and employment opportunities.

A participant must:

• be a resident of New Brunswick or a First Nation Community in New Brunswick;
• be 18 years of age or a high school graduate who is 17 years of age;
• have a permanent or long-term physical, intellectual, psychiatric or cognitive disability;
• have an Employment Action Plan.

Provided as part of the Employment Services Program, Training and Employment Support Services (TESS) is directed towards individuals with physical, intellectual, psychiatric or cognitive disabilities. The purpose of these services is to offer training and employment support options to persons with permanent or long-term disabilities who need to develop marketable skills in order to assist them to enter the labour force. These services are provided in full collaboration with the person with a disability in accordance with his/her needs and capabilities.

By its nature, the process is time-limited in that provision of goods and services is aimed at attaining self-sufficiency. Therefore, TESS is limited to the concept of enabling persons with disabilities to either obtain employment or resume employment when it has been interrupted. The intent is designed to reduce or remove, to the fullest extent possible, the effects of a disability, which limits a person’s potential to achieve a job.

It is not the intention of TESS to support training activities for individuals who already have marketable skills to enter the labour force, nor is it the intention of TESS to place persons with disabilities in a preferred position to that of the nondisabled. Rather, the purpose is to lessen the barriers a person with disabilities faces so that he/she may be as competitive as the non-disabled population when competing for employment. It should be noted that any individual with a disability, whether or not they are receiving income support benefits, could be eligible for services under TESS.

Work Ability

The Work Ability Program provides work experience opportunities to unemployed individuals who require a job placement to overcome a barrier as identified through their employment action plan. By placing an individual with an employer, they can work towards becoming job ready by establishing a career goal, developing skills, or addressing specific needs.

Individual

• The individual must be a resident of New Brunswick.
• The individual must have an employment action plan and be referred by an employment counsellor / case manager.
• The individual must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, children, parents, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.
• The individual must be 18 years of age or over and out of an educational institution (high school or post-secondary institution) for at least six months.

Employer

• The Employer can be a non-profit organization, municipality, provincial government department/agency, private sector business or First Nation.
• Employers must complete a client evaluation at the end of the job placement.

Placements

• The job placement cannot displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
• The job must meet the individual’s needs as per their employment action plan.
• Where jobs are covered by collective agreements, the employers must consult with unions to ensure that placements are not in contravention with provisions of the collective agreement.
• The job placement must be in accordance with all Provincial and Federal Acts and Regulations. The employers must pay premiums to WorkSafe NB (if applicable).

Employers who participate in the Work Ability Program must pay the individual hired and then subsequently submit wage claim forms for reimbursement to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL). Employers cannot withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed by the Department.

Employers are reimbursed on an hourly basis at a rate of minimum wage plus the employer’s share of benefits (CPP, EI and Vacation pay) for the duration of the placement. The wage reimbursement can be for up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. The duration of the job placement will depend on the employment action plan requirements.

Employers interested in participating in the Work Ability Program can submit an Inventory Registration Application (see section ‘Forms and Packages’) to the appropriate PETL regional office. A Program Officer will contact you when an individual requiring your type of job placement is referred by an Employment Counsellor/Case Manager.

Workplace Essential Skills Program (WES)

Workplace Essential Skills (WES) training is aimed at helping adults who are employed or seeking employment and require additional essential skills to succeed. It is also available to employers who are experiencing skilled labour shortages and in need of recruitment support. Courses are offered free of charge for adult residents of New Brunswick.

Learning activities focus on the specific tasks associated with either an individual’s current job or desired occupation. Training is customized to respond to the specific needs of the work environment.

Additionally, WES training can be designed to support apprentices who have experienced difficulties with taking certification exams. Training is adapted to help apprentices prepare for tests such as the Essential Skills Assessment, Block tests or Red Seal Certification exams.

Individuals and employers interested in these courses may contact the Regional Office in their area.

Adult learners who are currently employed and/or apprentices

The program is open to adults 18 years of age and older who have below functional level skills in one or more essential skills, including at least one literacy skill.

Adult learners who are seeking employment

• The program is open to adults 18 years of age and older who:
• have below function level skills in one or more essential skills, including at least one literacy skill;
• have an occupational goal; and
• who are case managed through Employment Development, Social Development, Public Safety or WorkSafe NB.

In the workplace

• PETL provides an initial Training Needs Assessment to identify the essential skills required in the specific workplace. Based on the results, training is customized and can be delivered on site. Training ends with a final evaluation of the impacts and recommendations for future learning opportunities within the business.

In the community

• WES training is based on the occupational goals that eligible individuals identify with their case manager. Training includes the opportunity to apply the skills learned in a workplace through work placement. Training ends with a final evaluation of the impacts and recommendations for future learning opportunities.

Apprentices

• Apprentices who require addition help to be successful on certification exams may access training through their regional apprenticeship officer or employer.

Workers’ Advocates

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.15396.html

Office of Workers’ Advocates is in place to provide information, advice and direct representation to injured workers or their dependents who desire to discuss or dispute any decision made in relation to their claim for workers’ compensation.

New Brunswick’s injured workers and their dependents as well as representatives of injured workers are eligible for their services. Its main goal is to provide injured workers or their dependents with a fair and reasonable opportunity to resolve issues that arise with respect to workers’ compensation claims.

More precisely, Workers’ Advocates will review and investigate complaints, inform clients of available options, provide advice and, if necessary, represent claimants at Appeals Tribunal hearings. There is no fee for these services.

Workers’ Advocates assist injured workers or their dependents in relation to their compensation claims pursuant to sub-section 83.1 of the Workers’ Compensation Act. A worker should be satisfied that his/her case was thoroughly advanced, or understands why an advocate was not able to achieve the worker’s desired outcome.

Workers’ Advocates’ Role:

• To provide general information about the WorkSafeNB system, policies, procedures, etc. and about relevant legislation;
• To discuss each case with the client in detail in order to get a clear understanding of the issue;
• To advise injured workers on what actions they can take in reference to their claim and to help them gather the necessary information;
• To help determine if a claim can be resolved through an appeal;
• To assist in preparing an appeal;
• To appear with the injured worker or their dependent as his or her representative at an appeal hearing;
• To assist claimants in resolving an issue without proceeding to an appeal hearing whenever possible.

Workers’ Advocates in New Brunswick
Toll free 1 (844) 530-0282
Email: dpetlinfo@gnb.ca

Bathurst
Harbourview Place
216 – 275 Main Street
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Telephone: (506) 549-5361
Fax: (506) 549-5351

Dieppe
Place 1604
320 – 200 Champlain Street
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Telephone: (506) 869-6455
Fax: (506) 869-6608

Edmundston
Carrefour Assomption
121 de l’Église Street
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Telephone: (506) 735-2082
Fax: (506) 735-2558

Fredericton
300 St. Mary’s Street
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Telephone: (506) 453-2377
Fax: (506) 444-5189

Miramichi
Chatham Town Centre
207-1780 Water Street
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Telephone: (506) 624-2125
Fax: (506) 624-5482

Saint John
8 Castle Street, 2nd Floor
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Telephone: (506) 453-2597
Fax: (506) 549-5351

Student Financial Services

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour/Skills/content/FinancialSupport/StudentFinancialServices.html

For information on financial assistance to attend a post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, call:

Fredericton and area: (506) 453-2577
In New Brunswick: (800) 667-5626
National Student Loans Service Centre: (888) 815-4514

Employer Wage Incentive – Workforce Expansion

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour/services/services_renderer.6935.Empl oyer_Wage_Incentive_-_Workforce_Expansion_.html

The Employer Wage Incentive component of the Workforce Expansion Program is a collaborative effort to bring our clients, unemployed New Brunswickers, together with employers. The program builds employer/employee relationships which promote the development of our unemployed by gaining skills that ultimately result in long-term sustainable full-time employment. The component also aims at encouraging the hiring of individuals from select groups.

Eligible employees:

• Must be unemployed.
• Must be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) (with the exception of members of a priority group or a Recent Post-secondary Graduate).
• Must be residing in New Brunswick or be willing to establish residency in New Brunswick.
• Must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, child, parent, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or a director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.
• Priority will be given to Aboriginals, Social Assistance Recipients, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, Newcomers, Older Workers, and recent Post-secondary Graduates.

Eligible employers:

• The employer must be a private sector company, non-profit organization or First Nation.
• Employer must be prepared to provide training.

Note: Public sector positions are not eligible for funding.

Eligible jobs:

• Jobs are for a minimum of 30 hours per week. A minimum of 15 hours per week will be considered for recently established small businesses creating a part-time position which will eventually develop into a full-time position.
• Jobs are incremental (with flexibility for Priority Groups).
• Jobs are not paid strictly on a commission basis or piece work basis, or by the kilometer.
• Jobs are not already publicly funded.
• Jobs do not displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
• Jobs will lead to permanent full time or extended/recurring seasonal positions.
• Jobs within First Nations are eligible except for those which are related to the band’s management.
• Jobs cannot start prior to approval.

Employer Wage Incentive utilizes temporary wage reimbursements to help establish permanent employment or annually recurring seasonal jobs.

A wage incentive is available to an employer at a rate and duration that depend on the type of employment that is created and individual employed:

Permanent Employment:

• Unemployed individual who is EI eligible: 50 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Duration is 12-24 weeks, depending on the National Occupation Code (NOC) of the job.
• Unemployed individual from a Priority Group (Aboriginals / Social Assistance Recipients / Persons with a Disability / Visible Minorities / Newcomers / Older Workers): 70 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Duration is 12-24 weeks, depending on the National Occupational Code (NOC) of the job, or 24 weeks for a disabled individual.

Annually Recurring Seasonal Job:

• Unemployed individual who is EI eligible: 50 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Employment must be for a period of at least 14 weeks in duration. Funding is for half the employment period (a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 10 weeks).

Recent Post-secondary Graduates:
If the hourly wage paid by the employer is $14.00 or more per hour see Wage Incentive – One-Job Pledge below.

Participating employers will pay the employees hired under this program and will subsequently submit wage claim forms to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour for reimbursement. Employers must not withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed by the Department.

Wage Incentive – One-Job Pledge
Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour/services/services_renderer.6935.Employer_Wage_Incentive_-_Workforce_Expansion_.html

Retaining our trained young professionals is part of a series of strategies aimed at rebuilding New Brunswick to accelerate our economic growth and provide us with an enhanced quality of life. To help achieve this goal, the New Brunswick Government, through its employment programs, is offering employers an improved wage incentive when they hire a recent post-secondary graduate in a job related to his or her field of study.

Eligible employees:

• Must be unemployed and be residing in New Brunswick or be willing to establish residency in New Brunswick.
• Must have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in the last four years.
• Post-Secondary Training must meet the following requirements:
  • Be at least 30 weeks in duration or be training accredited by an apprenticable trade; AND
  • Be provided by a Private Occupational Training Act (POTA) recognized institution; AND/OR
  • Be recognized by respective industry as post-secondary training that lead directly to full time permanent employment.
• Must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, child, parent, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or a director of the organization or an immediate family member of an officer or a director.

Eligible employers:

• The employer must be a private sector company, non-profit organization or First Nation.
• Employer must be prepared to provide training.

Note: Public sector positions are not eligible for funding.

Eligible jobs:

• Jobs are for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
• Jobs are incremental (with flexibility for Priority Groups).
• Jobs must be related to the employee’s field of study.
• Jobs are not paid strictly on a commission basis or piece work basis, or by the kilometer.
• Jobs are not already publicly funded.
• Jobs do not displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
• Jobs will lead to permanent full time positions.
• Jobs within First Nations are eligible except for those which are related to the band’s management.
• Jobs must not start before the approval of the Department.

Funding Eligibility:

The wage reimbursement for a recent post-secondary graduate is $10 per hour, for a maximum of 40 hours per week. The duration of a subsidy for a recent post- secondary graduate is 52 weeks. The employee must be paid at least $14.00 per hour.

Hiring is the responsibility of the employer, and it must not occur prior to the Department’s approval. Jobs must be filled within 30 days upon approval.

Participating employers will pay the employees hired under this program and will subsequently submit wage claim forms to the Department for reimbursement. Employers must not withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed.

Employers interested in participating in the Workforce Expansion Program can submit an application to the appropriate departmental office.

Youth Employment Fund
Youth Employment Fund Website

The Youth Employment Fund (YEF) provides an entry point to long term employment for unemployed individuals between 18-29 years of age who require a work experience opportunity as identified through their employment action plan. By placing an individual with an employer, the youth may gain work experience and develop skills through basic workplace training, mentoring and coaching (from the employer).

Eligible individuals:

• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Must be unemployed, underemployed or working less than 15 hours per week.
• Must be a resident of New Brunswick.
• The individual must have an employment action plan and be referred by an employment counsellor / case manager from one of the following:
  • Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
  • Social Development
  • Employment Assistance Services organizations o Aboriginal organizations
  • Public Safety
  • Office of Human Resources (Equal Opportunity Program)
• The individual must not be a full time student. High school students who: are at least 18 year of age, graduating in June, not planning to attend full-time post-secondary education and plan to enter the labour force immediately after high school can apply to the program after May 1st for placements starting after graduation.
• Individuals must be between 18-29 (at least 18 years old but less than 30 years old at the time of application).
• Must have a resume before being placed with an employer.
• Have not previously participated in a YEF placement.
• An employer must inform the YEF Program Officer immediately when an individual has taken medical or personal leave. No placement will be held beyond eight weeks.
• The individual must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, children, parents, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.

Eligible placements:

• Must be for 30-hours per week for 26-weeks, consecutively (i.e. 6 months).
• Up to 8-weeks (2 months) of the 26-weeks may be for training.
• The job placement cannot displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
• The job must meet the individual’s occupational goal as per their employment action plan.
• Where jobs are covered by collective agreements, the employers must consult with unions to ensure that placements are not in contravention with provisions of the collective agreement.
• The job placement must be in accordance with all Provincial and Federal Acts and Regulations.
• The placement cannot be for a post-secondary education practicum, a co- operative education work placement or Apprenticeship Block Release.
• The individual must not have already started with an employer prior to the position being approved by the YEF Program Officer.

Eligible employers:

• Priority is for private sector businesses but other sectors will be approved (based on the client’s needs) include:
  • Non-profit organizations;
  • Municipality;
  • Provincial Government Departments/Agencies only;
  • First Nations.
• Must be located in New Brunswick.
• Needs to provide a quality (i.e. orientation, coaching and mentoring) work experience opportunity.
• Have demonstrated commitment and positive experience in previous placements (if applicable).
• Priority will be given to employers who express an intent to retain the participant after the placement period.

The Youth Employment Fund is through both provincial resources and by the Labour Market Development Agreement. It is a youth specific, work experience program designed to provide youth with an opportunity to develop skills and find jobs in the Province.

Through the case management process youth are matched with eligible employers for a 26-week (i.e. 6-month) work experience. Individual supports and wage subsidies are available to support the placement and skills training that are linked to an available job.

Student Employment Experience Development  (SEED) – Students

SEED Website