Hiring Foreign Workers in Canada: What You Need to Know
If you’re considering hiring foreign workers, you’re not alone—the number of temporary foreign workers has risen from 1 in 50 people to 1 in 25 in the past 10 years. There are a growing number of foreign workers in Canada, and many are vital to industries such as agriculture, fishing and forestry.
However, hiring foreign workers means more than just putting up a job ad; hiring workers outside of official channels can expose you to legal and compliance risks. To help you secure the talent you need while staying compliant, we’ve gathered our top tips for hiring temporary foreign workers and the steps you need to take to hire them.
What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
If you want to hire temporary foreign workers, you’ll need to apply through the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. It’s designed to help you when you have temporary roles that qualified Canadians can’t fill. Programs began in the early 70’s to fill gaps in the labour market and today it still exists for the same reason.
Regulated through both the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, the TFW program assesses employer applications and determines their impact on the Canadian labour market.
What steps do employers need to take to hire a foreign worker?
- Confirm you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Most employers will require one if they’re hiring temporary foreign workers. To do this, you’ll need to check the work permit exemptions and LMIA exemption codes.
- Decide which type of Labour Impact Market Assessment you need to apply for. If you require an LMIA, you’ll need to apply for one of the following:
- Whether you need an LMIA.
- Once you have your LMIA, you’ll be able to hire through the temporary foreign worker program
- If you don’t need an LMIA, begin your search through the International Mobility Program. You’ll need to pay an employer compliance fee, and submit your employment form via the Employer Portal.
If you’re hiring in the Quebec province, you’ll need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Quebec ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). Once issued, you’ll receive a work permit.
What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?
A Labour Impact Market Assessment or LMIA, is there to ensure that jobs aren’t being given to foreign workers that a Canadian citizen is able to do. Ultimately, an LMIA determines whether there is a need for a foreign worker to be hired. Most roles will require a Labour Market Impact Assessment before you can hire a foreign worker, but there are some exemptions. You can apply for an LMIA online, but once you have it, and can share the details, a worker from overseas can apply for a work permit.
What kind of roles can I hire temporary foreign workers for?
Not all roles are open to temporary foreign workers in Canada, but we’ve listed the most common below.
- Agricultural work:This is work carried out on farms, greenhouses or nurseries and will involve either handling animals other than fish, plants or agricultural machinery.
- Caregivers: Caregivers are those who provide care for the elderly, the medically unwell or children. They must provide at least 30 hours of care a week, work in a private household and meet Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) standards.
- Academic positions: These positions are reserved for academics who can bring specialist knowledge and teaching abilities to post-secondary educational institutions.
- To support permanent residency: Employers can support foreign workers to permanently reside in Canada by guaranteeing them full-time positions for a year.
- High and low wage positions: High and low wage positions are those that are either above, or below, the province or territory’s wage threshold. It’s important to note that the wage threshold varies between the different territories and provinces.
What are the benefits of hiring foreign workers?
There are multiple benefits to hiring temporary foreign workers as a Canadian employer.
Firstly, because you’ll only get permission to hire foreign workers if you’re unable to source Canadian workers, the immediate benefit is having someone who can fill a job position.
Secondly, you’ll have access to a global talent pool, allowing you to pick the best workers from around the world if you require a niche skill. While the hiring of foreign workers is something of a last resort, it provides employers with a degree of flexibility by offering a predictable workforce.
How much do temporary foreign workers get paid in Canada?
The amount temporary foreign workers get paid depends on the province they work in. The table below provides the key details.
Hire foreign workers to support your team
There are plenty of reasons to hire foreign workers, but don’t forget it’s dependent on the needs of your workplace and the availability of local labour. If you want to start the process, begin by checking whether you’d need a Labour Management Impact Assessment. For further guidance on this and the application process, read our blog on LMIA.