Temporary Foreign Workers

Browsing social media for support work news, I occasionally come across posts about foreign workers. Usually, these posts are about temporary

foreign workers inquiring about their work permits, or about other folks venting their frustration that they're stealing jobs. What is there to make of these affairs? Perhaps it’s best to start by examining the Canadian temporary foreign workers program

Canada offers over 100 different pathways for foreign nationals to work in the country temporarily. These pathways are divided between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The TFWP is jointly administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and IMP is administered by the IRCC.

The TFWP is geared towards employers recruiting foreign workers to fill labor market shortages, while ensuring that there is a genuine need due to Canadian workers not filling these jobs. The program is explicit about not wanting to displace Canadian workers, despite the controversy suggesting otherwise. The IMP is also meant to address labor needs, but it's more of a Government initiative to recruit skilled workers to promote the Government’s broad economic, social and cultural objectives.

Temporary Foreign Workers coming to Canada to work as support workers usually come through the TFWP program. Here, employers complete a government Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to demonstrate a genuine need for the worker. The assessment is reviewed by a Government representative for a positive or negative rating. The assessment also seeks to ensure that the foreign worker will be given a salary and benefits that meet federal and provincial standards.

Other specific requirements of the assessments are that employers must advertise their position on the Government of Canada Job Bank and at least two other methods for a minimum of 4 to 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months prior to applying. They must also prepare business legitima

cy proofs (e.g., CRA documents, business license), recruitment efforts, and job offer details. Applications are submitted through the LMIA Online Pilot via the Job Bank portal, and the fee is generally $ 1,000 CAD per worker; exemptions apply to agricultural and permanent residency streams.

Once the employer gets a positive LMIA assessment, the worker of interest can apply for the permit. The worker must show the government his job offer letter, a contract, a copy of the LMIA, and the LMIA number.

Temporary foreign workers with an LMIA have a closed work permit. This means the permit is employer-specific and the worker cannot work for another employer. If they lose or quit their job, however, they may be eligible to obtain a new employer-specific work permit in Canada if their permit status has not expired. They may also obtain a permission form (IRCC) to begin working while their application is being processed. An extension to the permit may also be sought.

Commonly, temporary foreign workers will also seek out various streams in their bid to obtain permanent resident status and become full-fledged Canadian workers. This qualification grants them entrance to the Express Entry System, a comprehensive scoring system that awards points on criteria such as Canadian work experience and holding a work permit.

Given the question of whether temporary foreign workers are having a net negative impact on Canada’s job market, despite the program aiming to do otherwise, with the demographic changes occurring in our communities, it’s easy to jump to such a conclusion. With my work, I spend a lot of time in Brampton, and I am inundated with complaints from my Black, White, and even fellow East Asian clients about how the East Asian community is invading and snapping up jobs. Hhmmnn! Too many temporary foreign workers?

Stereotype—or downright bigotry —aside, maybe it's best to take a step back and seek an informed take on the matter. Please watch the linked video.