As expected, the Canadian Government has announced many changes to the “Temporary Foreign Worker Program”. This should be called perhaps undo of the many flexibilities in the regulations announced by IRCC back in 2022.
Priority to other permanent visa holders, and Canadian citizens (even asylum seekers with valid visas), review of salary levels annually (for TFW), and LMIA duration of validity deduction are the major changes announced.
Through all these changes, the Canadian government will still make sure that the rights of Temporary Foreign Workers are protected. The role of TFWP will still be important and the Government will monitor that it reflects the needs of the labor market.
Canada post-pandemic announced many favorable rules for the “Temporary Foreign Workers” who at that time were the best choice to overcome the labor shortage in the country as the new immigrants could not travel to Canada due to travel restrictions. At that time, the low unemployment rate and high job vacancy demand helped many temporary foreign workers to be a long-term part of the Canadian labor market. The temporary WRSP program was announced back in 2022 for the following occupations:
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311);
- Wood Product Manufacturing (NAICS 321);
- Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (NAICS 337);
- Accommodation and Food Services (NAICS 72);
- Construction (NAICS 23);
- Hospitals (NAICS 622);
- Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 623).
Changes in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program
Starting from Ma1, 2024, the following changes will be implemented to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program:
- Priority for the other workers instead of those who need LMIA. The employers will need to explore every option before applying for an LMIA — including recruiting asylum seekers with valid work permits here in Canada.
- The new LMIA will be valid for six months instead of 12 months,
- All employers identified in the 2022 “Workforce Solutions Road Map” will have a reduction from 30% to 20% of their total workforce that can come in through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, under the low wage stream, with an exception for the construction and health care sectors.
Starting from January 1, 2024, employers are required to annually review the wages of temporary foreign workers to ensure they reflect increases to prevailing wage rates for their given occupation and region of work.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, announced today that some time-limited measures under the TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map will not be renewed and will end, earlier than planned, this spring.
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said on this occassion;
“Our labour market needs are tightening, so should our policies. Today’s announcement prioritizes our country’s needs to have enough construction workers to build houses, early childhood educators to teach our kids, and health-care workers to treat patients. As we gradually reduce our reliance on temporary foreign workers, we will continue to help employers fill job vacancies while supporting Canadian workers.”
Canada.ca
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages said;
“Today, we announced our intention to reduce Canada’s reliance on temporary foreign workers and encourage employers to find the talent they need right here, at home. The time-limited measures we introduced in 2022 were necessary as our labor market was facing unprecedented conditions – but now, as times change, we must ensure our Temporary Foreign Worker Program reflects our current needs.”
canada.ca