Temporary foreign worker program in Canada

TheTemporary Foreign Worker Program(French:Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires,TFWP) is a program of theGovernment of Canadathat allows employers in Canada to hireforeign nationals.Workers brought in under the program are referred to asTemporary Foreign Workers(TFWs) and are allowed to work in positions that are not filled by Canadians. The aim was to address skill shortages and promote economic growth. Initially, the program was aimed at nurses and farm workers, but today it gives highly skilled and less skilled workers the opportunity to work in Canada.

As of 2021, there are over 775,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada, with them representing 4% of the workforce. The majority of temporary foreign workers are employed inlow-prestige jobs,such asfast foodworkers.Several economists have said temporary foreign workers andinternational studentsincreasingly form the backbone oflow-wagelabour.Mike Moffatt,an economist and professor atWestern University,said that “What we’re basically bringing in a lot of is, essentially, temporary foreign workers under student permits to work fast-food jobs and things like that.”

History

Between 1993 and 2013, the total number of TFW more than doubled to 338,189 workers;between 2006 and 2014 alone, over 500,000 workers were brought into Canada under the program.When TFWP began in 1973, most of the individuals brought in werehigh-skill workers,such asmedical specialists.In 2002, however, a "low-skilled workers" category was added, which now makes up most of the temporary foreign workforce.In 2006, the program was expanded, introducing fast-tracking for some locations.It was revised again in 2013, raising wages, charging employer fees, and removing the accelerated applications.

In 2018, the number of workers allowed increased by 36 percent and more than 17,600 permits were issued.

During the Covid-pandemic in 2020, the Canadian government, together with the TFWP, sought out to increase protection for foreign workers through protective legislation.

Employment

Apart from theirtemporary status,TFWs have the sameemployment rightsas Canadian workers, and can phone a free1-800number for help.However, because of the way in which the Canadian residence of a temporary foreign worker is tied to an employer, some TFWs have said they have been treated worse than Canadian co-workers.

It is against Canadian federal rules to bring in temporary foreign workers if Canadian workers are available. For an employer to hire a TFW, or for a TFW to work in a company they started in Canada, they may need to obtain aLabour Market Impact Assessment(LMIA). A positive LMIA or a confirmation letter grants permission to the employer who proves that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job as no Canadian worker is available and that such hiring will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.

Foreign agricultural workers make up roughly 60% of all workers coming into the country under the TFWP.

Controversies

2013

In April 2013, theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) began reporting on issues surrounding the hiring of temporary foreign workers.

On 6 April,CBC Newsreported that CanadianITworkers at theRoyal Bank of Canada(RBC) were losing their jobs to replacement foreign workers, who were brought from India by outsourcing firmiGATE.Existing RBC employees trained their replacements before they themselves werelaid off,causing their appeal to the media.Additionally in 2013,CBCfound that, inSaskatchewan,65% of recent newly created jobs were held by temporary foreign workers,and inNova Scotiaover one thousand employers had requested foreign workers.

CBCalso reported that a Chinese company that owns a mine inBritish Columbiawas attempting to import workers fromChina.According to theHuffington Post,one of the requirements of the job was the ability to speakMandarin Chinese.

In October,Huffington Postreported that theAlberta Federation of Laboursaid foreign workers were displacing Canadian workers inFort McMurray.The report claimed that 270 Canadian workers employed by aToronto-based firm were to be replaced by foreign workers employed by anItalianfirm.On 23 October,Global Newsreported thatFarmers of North America,inSaskatoon,was helping farmers recruit TFWs in order to help them. TheCanadian Federation of Agriculturereportedly estimated that Canada was in need of 30,000 seasonal and longer-term farm workers.Employment Canadaacknowledged that there was a shortage of agricultural workers.

Political reaction

The moveresulted in a strong negative reaction from the public, and garnered attention from the office of theMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.Accordingly, Human Resources MinisterDiane Finleyissued a statement saying the situation is unacceptable if it is true.

RBC responded to the controversy by issuing a statement denying the charges and offering clarification of the situation.While a reported 45 employees lost their jobs, the bank nevertheless had indicated that they intended to expand this practice in the coming year.

In May, the TFWP was the focus of debate between theConservative governmentand theNDP Official Opposition,and Prime MinisterStephen Harperwas questioned at theHouse of Commonsabout the program.CBCreported that some employers were said to be abusing the TFWP by bringing in temporary foreign workers to areas where qualified local workers were collectingEmployment Insurance(EI) benefits.DuringQuestion Period,Harper said that the government had addressed this issue before 2013, and that changes had been made to both the EI and TFW programs in order to address these issues. He stated that the NDP did not cooperate at the time in the introduction of the changes, and that NDPMembers of Parliamentrequested more foreign workers in their ownridings.

2014

In January 2014, Employment MinisterJason Kenneypledged a second round of reforms citing employee frustration.In April, issues with the program came under scrutiny byCBCrelating to the procurement of temporary foreign unskilled labour byMcDonald's Canada.On 24 April, Kenney announced that the TFWP had been suspended for thefood-servicesindustry.It has since been renewed.

Microsoft

In December 2014,CBCreported that Microsoft Canada obtained an exemption from the federal government that will allow the company to bring in an unspecified number of TFW toBritish Columbia.The trainee foreign workers—most of whom would be fromIndiaandChina—were to be hired without requiring Microsoft to look for Canadian workers who could fill the positions.

2017

In 2017, the Toronto Star conducted an investigation that revealed a large number of cases of incorrect accommodation, lack of access to medical care, violence and abuse.

See also

• Guest worker program
• Labour Market Impact Assessment
• Live-In Caregiver Program
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
• Temporary residency

External links

• Temporary Foreign Worker Programat the Government of Canada