The federal government of Canada has introduced modifications to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, aimed at addressing labor shortages by allowing the employment of foreign nationals at lower wages. Starting from September 26, 2024, the processing of employer requests for temporary foreign workers will be halted in urban areas with unemployment rates of six per cent or above, albeit with certain exemptions.
Additionally, there will be a reinstatement of the pre-pandemic cap on employers, restricting them to hiring temporary foreign workers for up to 10 per cent of their workforce. The tenure for employees engaged through the low-wage stream will also see a reduction, allowing for a maximum of one year of employment, down from the previous two years.
The rise in reliance on temporary foreign workers has been notable, with their numbers more than doubling from 108,988 in 2018 to approximately 240,000 in 2023, as per Employment and Social Development Canada. This surge is evident across various sectors, with significant increases in approvals for positions such as food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, administrative assistants, and light duty cleaners.
Despite these changes, concerns persist regarding the exploitative nature of the program. Temporary foreign workers are often tied to their employers through closed work permits, limiting their ability to change jobs and making them vulnerable to exploitative work conditions. Recommendations have been made by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to halt the issuance of such permits, highlighting issues of wage theft, excessive work hours, and abuse.
Advocacy for reform continues, with calls for the replacement of employer-specific work permits with open ones, and the provision of pathways to permanent residency and citizenship for these workers. The Canadian Labour Congress has been vocal in urging for improvements in protections for workers within this program, emphasizing the need for a fundamental overhaul to end exploitation.
Source: TheConversation