An update on an important change pertaining to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Ministers Address Systemic Abuse in the LMIA Program

LMIA: The long-overdue requirement for modifications to stop system abuse;

Since Ministers are actively contemplating additional modifications to solve persistent issues and enhance the program’s efficacy, the program has recently taken center stage. Speaking out against systemic abuses by Canadian businesses, the Ministers of Immigration, Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages have also weighed in.

Steps Taken to Stop TFWP Abuse

Minister Boissonnault targeted Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) abusers with a series of measures during a news conference on August 6th on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which is handling LMIA applications. In particular, these were:

Stricter Rules for Employers

Restricting temporary foreign workers—including those in the “dual intent sub-stream” who plan to apply for permanent residency—by a constant 20%. More rigorous regulations will also apply to employers employing the dual intent stream: – Tighter supervision over the issue of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and inspections, especially in high-risk locations.

1. Potential hikes in the LMIA price to pay for further processing and integrity efforts.
2. Enforcing employer eligibility requirements, which could involve more stringent requirements like a minimum number of years in business or taking into account an employer’s history of layoffs.
3. Introducing restrictions and declining to process applications for the TFWP’s low-wage stream, particularly for employers in particular sectors and industries that have a history of abuse.