The federal government has frozen caps on the number of Temporary Foreign Workers a business can hire.
Limits were due to be reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent of a company’s workforce from July 1.
But following a review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Liberals have decided to keep the cap at 20 per cent for the foreseeable future.
The move was welcomed overall, although many businesses say they had already begun reducing numbers in anticipation of the cap deadline.
The steps to a Canadian TFWP visa (Each step is fully explained here)
- Determine if you require a work permit to work in your desired job in Canada
- Determine if you are eligible to apply for a Canadian temporary work permit
- Determine if you will apply online or on paper
- Obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your potential employer, if required
- Obtain a temporary job offer from your potential employer
- Gather required documents and forms
- Pay fees
- Submit application
Meat processing plants in Alberta have been feeling the impact of the caps, left understaffed and forced to waste product due to a lack of available butchers.
It means they have been unable to obtain a full range of cuts from animals, and they are now relieved that the prospect of having to reduce foreign staff further has been removed.
But the decision comes too late in the day for those in the hotel and restaurant industry, who are already in the full swing of the summer season.
Stop-Gap Measure
Business owners welcomed the policy shift in general, but regretted the fact their staff numbers would not benefit during this current busy period.
Many in the industry have been planning for the cap reduction for months, meaning an announcement a week before it was due to happen is simply too late.
Others say keeping the cap at 20 per cent is ok as a stop-gap measure, but that the system needs to be totally revamped because arbitrary limits do not account for the requirements of individual businesses.
The TFWP caps were introduced by the previous Conservative government to address concerns the program was being abused by employers and that foreign workers were taking jobs away from Canadians.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
The federal review of the program is ongoing, with results expected in September.
There have been calls for all TFWs to be given a pathway to permanent residence in Canada, but this suggestion appears short-sighted.
Migrant workers and Canadians alike must be protected against exploitation by employers. However, low-skilled foreign workers who choose to apply to work in Canada must do so knowing that their relocation has a finite term and they will be required to leave afterwards.
For the few who are able to transition to permanent residence under provincial nomination programs, are able to improve their qualifications and meet existing pathways under permanent residence streams.
Those who cannot must look to other destinations beyond Canada.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
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