Soon, employers hiring foreigners for temporary jobs in Canada will need to meet stricter rules. These foreign workers help Canada by filling short-term job gaps and gaining work experience here.
Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program. Some temporary measures will end sooner than planned this spring.
To hire foreign workers, Canadian employers must show that no local workers can do the job. Starting May 1, 2024, these work permits will only last six months. Certain employers will see a reduction in how many foreign workers they can hire. For some low-wage jobs, the cap is now 20%, down from 30%. This doesn’t apply to construction and healthcare.
Foreign workers will have less time to apply for permits starting May 1, 2024. Employers must also consider other options, like hiring asylum seekers with work permits. Employers now must check and adjust wages for foreign workers annually. This ensures they get fair pay according to local wage rates.
Canada aims to rely less on foreign workers, prioritizing Canadian hires. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program fills temporary job gaps when local workers aren’t available.
