The Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is an immigration route that allows employers in a country to hire foreign nationals to work for them. The Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) Canada is a program established by the Canadian government. This program allows Canadian employers to hire foreigners for a limited time to improve their workforce and productivity. Canada’s temporary agency work program for foreign workers brings in foreigners who are temporarily foreigners

History of the Overseas Temporary Program

The history of temporary worker programs can be traced back to 1973 when the program was established by the Canadian government. During this time, it was mainly highly qualified workers such as physicians who were involved in this program. In 2002, low-skilled workers were admitted to the program.

The foreign temporary work programs were expanded in 2006 because fast tracking was introduced at some locations. In approximately July 2013, the Canadian government introduced some significant changes to the temporary foreign worker program to provide benefits to Canadian citizens and improve Canadian hiring rates. The changes were also made to facilitate Canada’s economic growth.

In addition, the activities of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program are supported by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The temporary foreign worker program benefits both the employer and the foreigner.

Temporary work programs for foreign workers in Canada

TFWP requires Canadian employers to hire foreigners as their workers through one of the streams listed below;

• Global talent stream
• low-wage workers
• high-wage workers
• caregivers at home
• foreign farm workers

Therefore, in 2016 there were some important changes in the program for temporary foreign workers. Canadian employers were more concerned about the changes. Some temporary foreign worker program news platforms expressed the changes as follows;

1. A faster application process for the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
2. Shortened LMIA processing times for reliable employers
3. Exclusion of some workers from completing the LMIA process
4. Exemption from submitting transition plans for highly skilled foreign workers
5. The ability to review contracts with temporary foreign workers if workers and employers give their consent
6. Limit to 20% the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers a Canadian employer may hire at any given time
7. Some Canadian employers who were initially exempt from hiring low-wage workers were allowed to hire them
8. To hire a temporary worker through the Foreign Temporary Worker Scheme:

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian employers who intend to hire employees through the CIC Temporary Foreign Workers program must follow a number of processes. As a Canadian employer, it is important that you apply for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to confirm whether you can hire a temporary foreign worker. Therefore, Canadian employers must go through 3 key steps to complete an application for a temporary foreign worker program.

1. Obtaining an LMIA or submitting a job offer:

The labor market proof serves as proof that you really need to hire such an employee in your organization as no Canadian employee is competent enough to do the job. If your job does not require an LMIA, you must submit a job offer and pay the employer compliance fee through the IRRC Employer Portal. Also, it is important that you provide the foreigner with the vacancy number or LMIA number to assist the worker in completing the application. However, some employers are exempt from paying the employer compliance fee and also from making an offer of employment.

2. Request the foreigner to apply for a work permit:

After the employee receives a copy of the job offer, job offer number or LMIA number, they will use this to apply for their Canadian work permit. So if you have not gone through the employer compliance process, the employee can use the employment contract to support their application.

3. Explain the procedures and expected results to the foreign nationals:

This requires you to inform the worker that they will be awaiting a letter of recommendation after approval by their co-worker for a work permit. If the alien already resides in Canada, CIC will send the work permit to their mail. As a Canada Temporary Alien Program holder, there is no set work permit validity period. Instead, the validity period of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program depends on your job offer or contract.

If your employer used LMIA during the hiring process, the duration will be reflected on your LMIA. Statistics from the Temporary Foreign Workers Program showed that from 2006 to 2014, more than half a million foreign nationals were employed by Canadian employers as temporary workers. Technical workers, creative and performing artists, self-employed engineers, etc. are examples of Canadian temporary foreign workers who are exempt from the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Quebec Temporary Foreign Worker Scheme (TFWP)

This program is ideal for foreigners seeking temporary employment in Quebec. The first step in applying for Quebec TFWP is usually initiated by the employer. Your LMIA application must be submitted to Service Canada and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Integration (MIFI) at the same time. If you currently reside in Quebec, you must submit your LMIA application in French. You do not need this template if you are applying for a home caregiver position.

British Columbia TFWP

British Columbia’s Foreign Workers Program is recommended to British Columbia employers who intend to hire savvy and qualified foreign nationals to grow their business. Applying for this type of TFWP requires the intervention of WorkBC. Your duty is to provide assistance to all British Columbians to carefully steer BC’s labor market.

Alberta TFWP

This type of TFWP allows Alberta employers to hire new workers when there are a limited number of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are eligible for a particular job. Under Alberta’s temporary alien program, employers often hire foreign nationals to fill various positions or trades such as carpenters, welders, ironworkers, etc.

Manitoba TFWP

This program is provided by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for foreign nationals who wish to be employed by a Manitoba employer. The Manitoba Temporary Alien Worker Program requires your employer to register with Manitoba Labor – Employment Standards. On several occasions, recruitment of foreign workers should be applied for with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Here are the official sources on some of the necessary forms you will need to apply for an overseas temporary work program.

You can download the pdf file for the revision of the foreign temporary work programs.

You can check the PDF file of the TFWP Annex 2 which consists of the employment contract.

The Schedule H Temporary Alien Worker Program Form is essential for aliens with intellectual disabilities, chronic or terminal illnesses.

If you and your employer are entering into an employer/employee contract for a home care worker, downloading the tfwp form is required to apply for a TFWP.

Roles of foreign workers in the event of an ongoing strike situation at their workplace

Foreign agency workers may also participate in a legally authorized strike. Such a strike by the temporary foreign worker program will not result in the foreign worker losing his or her work permit. You have the choice to participate in the strike or not.

In this situation, you may need to;
Wait for the strike to be lifted

Apply for a new job. If you decide to seek new employment, your new employer will assist you in applying for LMIA if the job requires it

Return to your home country until the end of the strike. As long as your work permit has not yet expired, your agency work policy will continue to support you. It offers you the freedom to enter Canada without the need for a new visa

Changes in the path for foreign agency workers in 2015

On 30th April 2015, some changes were made to Canada’s TFWP to help employers who are struggling to find qualified workers in Canada to fill a position.

Changes were also made to the median hourly wages in relation to each occupation and region chart. This depends on the type of job that qualifies as a low-wage or high-wage job. In addition, the changes impacted the salary flow of incoming Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications and also the threshold used to determine eligibility for a 10-day expedited processing. Existing streams were replaced by low-wage and high-wage streams.

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Some questions about Canada TFWPs

1. When did Canada start TFWP?
2. TFWP started in 1973
3. Which Province Started the Temporary Work Program in Canada?
4. The Government of Canada has launched the Temporary Worker Program (TFWP).
5. How do I apply for a temporary overseas worker program?
6. Obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or submit a job offer
7. The foreigner then applies for a work permit
8. The foreigner must be informed about the application process