By Zanub Saeed
Walmart announced that they set out an initiative where they hope to have 94,000 associates hired in their Canadian stores by January 31, 2013, with 4,000 new associate jobs being created this year alone at 47 hiring centers across the North American nation.
This is part of the company's plans to complete at least 73 projects including building new stores and expanding their brand, and remodeling and relocating stores that currently exist in Canada, said Walmart Canada in a press release issued on Monday.
"We are extremely excited to be adding more than 4,000 new associates to our team," Bob Hakeem, senior vice president, People, Walmart Canada, said for the press release. "Walmart is a company where associates have a genuine passion to help Canadians save money so they can live better. We are a company that works with communities to improve the world we live in, where diversity is expected and inclusion the norm. Whether you are looking for a career in retail or a part time job, we want to hear from you."
Walmart Canada purchased leaseholds for at least 39 former Zellers stores in June 2011, and they will all reopen as Walmart branches across Canada within this fiscal year, said the press release.
"We have already hired many pharmacy associates that previously worked for Zellers and are looking to fill additional positions," Eric Muir, senior vice president, Health and Wellness, Walmart Canada, was quoted as stating for the press release.
Walmart stores in Canada have so far hired 900 new associates in 2012, ranging from store managers to sales associates, and field operations and Home Office positions. They plan to staff another 3,100 new positions by the end of 2012, said the press release. There are currently 330 stores nationwide throughout Canada that serve over a million customers a day, said the press release, and the store is one of the largest employers in the nation.
