Temporary foreign workers are becoming one of the major sources of labor supply in Canada. To fill short-term labor shortages, Canada invites foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).Recently, the Canadian government has devised a new policy for temporary foreign workers to expedite the process for them to start their jobs. As per this new policy, the government will allow all temporary workers to start their job in 10 days after applying for a work permit instead of the previous timeline of 10 weeks.Also Read: Canada’s Immigration Minister Comes Forward For Immigration QueriesSo, now the workers with a job offer in Canada can go ahead with their job duties even when their application is being processed. By implementing this policy, the time taken by a foreign worker to start his or her job will be reduced drastically and this will be a big help in those occupations that are already struggling with labor shortages.
This change is made by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to meet the labor market needs during the coronavirus crisis. Many employers are facing severe labor shortages in sectors related to agriculture, healthcare, and agri-food among others. According to the current rules, temporary foreign workers who have an expired employer-specific work permit must work legally in Canada and apply for a new work permit along with the name of a new employer. However, now, the government has allowed the temporary foreign workers with a job offer to get an authorization to work within 10 days if they submit a request for the same to IRCC. If their request is approved by the IRCC, they can start their new job.
Following are the main eligibility criteria:
Foreign workers must have a valid status in Canada;
An employer-specific work permit is a requirement;
Must have created an application for a new work permit.
Nevertheless, employers need to follow the same rules and go through the Labor Market Impact Assessment and receive a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada.Also Read: Canada’s Immigration Minister Comes Forward For Immigration QueriesFor some employer-specific occupations, the need for LMIA is exempt. But employers are required to submit a job offer through the IMF Employer portal.
How can temporary foreign workers change employers?
Temporary foreign workers have to apply for a new work permit while staying in Canada. They have to apply through an online portal but if it is not possible due to any disability, they can apply on paper.Once a complete form is submitted to the IRCC, workers will get an email that will give them confirmation to start their work with the new employer.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
TFWP is specially designed for employers who face labor shortages and need foreign workers to fill the labor gap. Through this program, employers can select foreign workers with the required skills for a particular job. However, an employer who hires a foreign worker through the TFWP must prove that the required job duties cannot be performed by any Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. So, a foreign worker is needed to perform the duties.