People interested in becoming refrigeration engineers will have to undergo training three times shorter than normal after the Legault government announced plans to train nearly 5,000 construction workers by the summer of 2024.
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This job typically requires 18 months of training, which involves installing and repairing air conditioning systems in homes, businesses and businesses. Is there a risk that the concepts will be condensed into just six months?
“I find it quickly,” said Climatization VB owner Vincent Beaudry. We have to see what kind of refrigeration technician they want to train. Will this result in sloppy training? We don’t know at the moment.
“He has to set them up correctly. However, in our profession, we learn more on the job than in school.”
He’s not convinced the retention rate could be better than in the past.
“That’s what scares me about such large subsidies,” he added. They do their lessons and at the end they see that they don’t like it. That’s what can happen if you pay for their education.”
A recommendation
Each student receives a scholarship of between $9,000 and $15,000 upon receipt of their refrigeration diploma. Mr Beaudry recommends ensuring that new employees stay in the job for a few years.
“I would only give them the amount that comes with the diploma if they become a “companion” (8000 hours, of which 1800 hours are training).
“When a student completes their education and collects their $15,000 but they don’t like it for one reason or another. They could spend their money on butter.”
Sword in the water?
The accelerated training begins in January. However, for refrigeration technicians who specialize in residential installations, this could be a dead end.
“To be ready for the big season, we have to hire them in March or April. By the time these new refrigeration technicians arrive in June, it will be too late.
“Maybe we need an employee in June, but maybe not.”
The turnover rate has been a problem for this company, which has a team of seven refrigeration engineers. Mr. Beaudry had to use his imagination to attract new employees.
“The (CCQ) pools for refrigeration technicians were opened two weeks ago. This means I can hire anyone without training and train them in my own way. It’s less good because I’m the one who has to train them.”
He had no choice but to use this route. Refrigerator workers weren’t on the streets.
“We have a large fluctuation of apprentices. It’s hot and we have to go to the customers’ attic. There aren’t many who stay in their jobs.”
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