Quebec is to make it easier for employers to hire overseas candidates in a slew of high-demand occupations through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The province has published lists of jobs it has submitted to the federal government that will qualify for:
- simplified work permit processing,
- exemptions from posting and recruitment efforts, and
- 10% to 20% increases in thresholds of TFWs per workplace.
The changes, announced by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, are designed to help address chronic labour shortages in the French-speaking province.
A ministry press release said a strong consensus had been reach following meetings with industry stakeholders.
Important sectors covered by the new rules include retail trade, accommodation and catering as well as food processing, where the labour shortages are sharpest.
“The negotiated flexibilities will allow several companies to obtain labor reinforcement while respecting workers’ rights,” said the press release.
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Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Immigration called for the federal government to act promptly to rubber-stamp the changes.
“I am very happy to present the Quebec consensus today. In the current context of labor shortage, every action counts,” he said.
“That is why our government is working tirelessly to ensure that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program meets the needs of Quebec businesses.
“Now that we have clarified the sectors of economic activity and the occupations that will benefit from the flexibilities, we expect the swift implementation by the federal government. These workers must obtain their work permit as soon as possible. “
The changes come following an August 4 agreement between the Quebec and federal governments, that action was needed on the TFWP and International Mobility Program.
Following that agreement, on October 13, Quebec adopted a resolution of employers and unions highlighting the importance of foreign workers in addressing the provincial labour shortage.
The lists, included below, were sent to the federal government on November 1. The temporary changes are expected to be in place until the end of 2023.
Level C professions added to the list of professions eligible for simplified processing
|
NOC |
Job description |
|
1415 |
Personnel clerks |
|
1434 |
Banking, insurance and other financial clerks |
|
1435 |
Collectors |
|
1522 |
Storekeepers and partspersons |
|
1525 |
Dispatchers |
|
1526 |
Transportation route and crew schedulers |
|
3411 |
Dental assistants |
|
3413 |
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
|
4413 |
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
|
6411 |
Sales and account representatives |
|
6421 |
Retail salespersons |
|
6531 |
Tour and travel guides |
|
6563 |
Pet groomers and animal care workers |
|
7452 |
Material handlers |
|
7511 |
Transport truck drivers |
|
7512 |
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators |
|
7521 |
Heavy equipment operators (except crane) |
|
7522 |
Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers |
|
8421 |
Chain saw and skidder operators |
|
8422 |
Silviculture and forestry workers |
|
9411 |
Machine operators, mineral and metal processing |
|
9412 |
Foundry workers |
|
9416 |
Metalworking and forging machine operators |
|
9417 |
Machining tool operators |
|
9418 |
Other metal products machine operators |
|
9422 |
Plastics processing machine operators |
|
9423 |
Rubber processing machine operators and related workers |
|
9431 |
Sawmill machine operators |
|
9436 |
Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders |
|
9446 |
Industrial sewing machine operators |
|
9461 |
Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing |
|
9462 |
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers |
|
9463 |
Fish and seafood plant workers |
|
9532 |
Furniture and fixture assemblers and inspectors |
|
9534 |
Furniture finishers and refinishers |
|
9535 |
Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
|
9536 |
Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators |
Level D professions exempt from the external posting process
|
NOC |
Job description |
|
6611 |
Cashiers |
|
6622 |
Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers |
|
6711 |
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations |
|
6731 |
Light duty cleaners |
|
6732 |
Specialized cleaners |
|
6733 |
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents |
|
8612 |
Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
|
8616 |
Logging and forestry labourers |
|
9612 |
Labourers in metal fabrication |
|
9614 |
Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
|
9615 |
Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing |
|
9617 |
Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing |
|
9618 |
Labourers in fish and seafood processing |
Sectors and professions targeted by the 10% to 20% increase in the TFW threshold per workplace, in the low-wage component
|
Sector |
NOC |
Profession |
|
Retail trade excluding food |
6611 |
Cashiers |
|
6622 |
Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers |
|
|
6732 |
Specialized cleaners |
|
|
Accommodation and catering |
6611 |
Cashiers |
|
6711 |
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations |
|
|
6731 |
Light duty cleaners |
|
|
Manufacture of food, drinks and tobacco |
9617 |
Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing |
|
Management of companies and companies and services administrative, support and others |
6731 |
Light duty cleaners |
|
6732 |
Specialized cleaners |
|
|
6733 |
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents |
|
|
8612 |
Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
|
|
Healthcare |
6731 |
Light duty cleaners |
|
Forestry and logging |
8616 |
Logging and forestry labourers |
|
Metal manufacturing |
9612 |
Labourers in metal fabrication |
|
Plastic and rubber manufacturing |
9615 |
Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing |
|
Wood manufacturing |
9614 |
Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
NOC 0, A and B occupations added to the list of professions eligible for simplified processing
|
NOC |
Job Description |
|
0113 |
Purchasing managers |
|
0211 |
Engineering managers |
|
0212 |
Architecture and science managers |
|
0601 |
Corporate sales managers |
|
0632 |
Accommodation service managers |
|
1123 |
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations |
|
1211 |
Supervisors, general office and administrative support workers |
|
1221 |
Administrative officers |
|
1241 |
Administrative assistants |
|
1314 |
Assessors, valuators and appraisers |
|
2211 |
Chemical technologists and technicians |
|
2212 |
Geological and mineral technologists and technicians |
|
2244 |
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors |
|
2252 |
Industrial designers |
|
2253 |
Drafting technologists and technicians |
|
2261 |
Non-destructive testers and inspection technicians |
|
5111 |
Librarians |
|
5113 |
Archivists |
|
5225 |
Audio and video recording technicians |
|
5242 |
Interior designers and interior decorators |
|
5243 |
Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers |
|
6222 |
Retail and wholesale buyers |
|
6311 |
Food service supervisors |
|
6313 |
Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors |
|
6321 |
Chefs |
|
6322 |
Cooks |
|
6332 |
Bakers |
|
6342 |
Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners |
|
7204 |
Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
|
7244 |
Electrical power line and cable workers |
|
7305 |
Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators |
|
7315 |
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
|
7322 |
Motor vehicle body repairers |
|
9212 |
Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities |
