Visarete Immigration

April 6, 2022

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Temporary Foreign Worker Program To Address Labour Shortages

Announced on April 4, Canada plans to address labour shortages by bringing in Temporary Foreign Workers to fill jobs where there are no Canadians available to do the work.

Starting immediately, these are the five major changes for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program;

1. Labour Market Impact Assessments will now be valid for 18 months from 6 months before the pandemic.
2. Maximum duration of employment for High-Wage and Global Talent Stream workers is now extended to 3 years to help workers qualify for more pathways to permanent residency.
3. Placed since 2015, Seasonal Cap Exemption is now permanent and there will no longer be a limit to low-wage positions under employers in seasonal industries.

Effective April 30:

1. Employers from sectors affected by labour shortages will be allowed to hire up to 30% of their workforce through Temporary Foreign Work Permit for the low-wage positions for 1 year. The seven eligible sectors include:
   1. Food Manufacturing
   2. Wood product manufacturing
   3. Furniture and related product manufacturing
   4. Accommodation and Food services
   5. Construction
   6. Hospitals
   7. Nursing and residential care facilities

All other sectors will be allowed to hire up to 20% of their workforce until further notice.

2. The current policy that automatically refuses LMIA applications for low-wage occupations in              the accommodation and food services will now end in regions with an unemployment rate of              6% or higher.