Samuelsohn hiring with ‘industry high’ wages on offer
One of Montreal’s oldest apparel makers is betting higher wages will help it recruit additional workers as production of premium men’s clothing resumes.
Samuelsohn Ltd., which began producing personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Thursday it’s looking to hire 100 sewing machine operators who will be paid $16 an hour. The hourly wage is a “new industry high,” Samuelsohn said. Until now, operators would typically start at $13 an hour, spokeswoman Cynthia Vitalei told the Montreal Gazette.
“We are hiring,” Samuelsohn president Alan Abramowicz said in a statement. “We’ve put a significant number of measures in place to ensure the safety of our workers in the factory,” including periodic disinfecting, arranging workstations for physical distancing and requiring employees to wear face masks, shields, gowns and gloves, he said.
The 97-year-old company has more than 500 employees, including about 425 apparel workers at its Parc Ave. facilities.
With non-essential manufacturers across Quebec having reopened this month, Samuelsohn resumed production of the highend suits, jackets and trousers it sells to nearly 350 specialty stores in Canada and the U.S. Key clients include the Harry Rosen chain.
Samuelsohn took on about 150 new workers last month to make medical gowns for Quebec and the federal government.
The gowns are destined for doctors, nurses and first responders at hospitals and health-care facilities.
“We remain committed to helping the Canadian department of health protect front-line healthcare workers with personal protective equipment,” chief executive Stephen Granovsky said. “We are prepared to continue to do so until the country recovers and stockpiles are replenished. In the process, we are creating more domestic jobs.”