The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program is intended to be a last resort, used only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are unavailable to fill job openings. However, the program has been misused to bypass hiring talented workers within Canada. To address this issue, Minister Boissonnault recently met with business organizations to inform them that the Government of Canada is considering restricting access to the program and enhancing compliance measures.
Given the current labour market conditions, Minister Randy Boissonnault announced today that the government is taking additional steps to prevent misuse and fraud within the TFW Program. The following changes will take effect by September 26, 2024:
- The Government of Canada will no longer process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in the Low-Wage stream for areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, except for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in key sectors such as primary agriculture, food processing, fish processing, construction, and healthcare.
- Employers will be limited to hiring no more than 10% of their total workforce through the TFW Program, specifically in the Low-Wage stream. This is a further reduction from March 2024, with exceptions for jobs in essential sectors like food security, healthcare, and construction.
- The maximum employment duration for workers in the Low-Wage stream will be reduced from two years to one year.
Canadian employers have a responsibility to invest in the diverse workforce available in the country, including young people, newcomers, and persons with disabilities, who are often underutilized. Employers must also focus on retraining and upskilling their current employees to prepare them for the future economy. The government will continue to collaborate with businesses and organizations to help them find the workers they need while ensuring Canadian workers receive the opportunities they deserve through training and education support.
The Government of Canada will keep monitoring labour market conditions and make further adjustments to the TFW Program as necessary. Over the next 90 days, the program will undergo additional review, which may result in changes to the High-Wage stream, existing LMIA applications, sectoral exceptions, or the processing of other LMIA applications, including those in rural areas.
References:
Employment and Social Development Canada “August 26, 2024″. Minister Boissonnault reducing the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2024/08/minister-boissonnault-reducing-the-number-of-temporary-foreign-workers-in-canada.html
