Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Announced

The federal government has announced an overhaul to the Temporary Foreign Worker program that limits access to the program for employers with lower than provincial average wage jobs. Fees to access the TFWP will increase to $1,000 per worker. High-wage employers will be required to file transition plans to demonstrate the path to reduced dependence on temporary foreign workers.  Investments in labour market intelligence will increase.  And the changes announced today also include stronger enforcement mechanisms to identify and punish abuse.

The International Mobility Mobility Program addressing foreign workers with the right to work in Canada through ITCs and international agreements such as NAFTA will also be subject to new measures such as a $230 per worker compliance fee. The program aims for tighter scrutiny of compliance and more clarity on what constitutes “specialized knowledge.”

Full details are available here.