On Tuesday, Ottawa unveiled a new pilot program that will last for three years and promote the recruitment of temporary foreign workers to encourage employers to comply with worker-protection regulations.
On Tuesday, Ottawa unveiled a new pilot program that will last for three years and promote the recruitment of temporary foreign workers to encourage employers to comply with worker-protection regulations.
The “recognized employer pilot” program would require companies with a good track record to provide evidence that they need temporary foreign workers every three years, rather than every 18 months.
Potential employees in the government’s job database would be informed that the employer is a trusted entity.
Randy Boissonnault, the Employment Minister of Canada, announced during a press conference in Delta, B.C. on Tuesday that the new pilot will prioritize the protections and support provided to temporary foreign workers who seek work-related employment.
The temporary foreign worker program is intended to entice workers from other countries to fill short-term labour market gaps, particularly where there are no Canadians or permanent residents available.
Boissonnault stated that employers who are part of the pilot program must undergo a more rigorous initial evaluation.
The pilot will be available to agricultural companies starting in September, and all other employers will have the opportunity to participate in January.
Jennifer Wright, executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, stated that the pilot will make it easier to hire by eliminating the administrative burden of submitting paperwork every 18 months.
“The competitiveness of Canada’s agriculture sector is being challenged by a significant hindrance in addressing labour shortages,” she stated on Tuesday.
In its 2022 budget, the government referred to the program as the “trusted employer model” and allocated $29.3 million over three years.
The temporary foreign worker program has been accused of abuse for years.
Boissonnault stated that language barriers, social and physical isolation, and a lack of awareness about workers’ rights make them more vulnerable to abuse, which the government has attempted to address with more oversight.
Over 2,100 inspections conducted between April 2022 and March 2023 revealed that 117 employers were found to be “out of compliance.” Of those, 94 were fined $1.5 million, 23 were given warnings, and six were prohibited from participating in the program for five years.
Boissonnault stated that the system is functioning to ensure worker safety.
According to him, his office has established a tip line for workers and advocates who report wrongdoing, which is available in 200 languages.
The Canadian Press first published this report on August 8, 2023.
The Canadian Press’s Laura Osman
Corrections have been made to the story. A previous version of the announcement made by Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault at a press conference in Ruthven, Ont. was incorrect.