Canada’s
low-wage stream under the provides Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to
fill labour shortages in Canada where there are not enough Canadians or
permanent residents available.
This stream is
for occupations that are classified under the NOC as level C and D, such as
labourers, cleaners, cashiers, drivers, which usually require a high school
diploma or job-specific training.
Workers must meet the requirements of education or
experience to qualify, while employers have stringent requirements they must
fulfill to ensure the rights of workers are being respected. Among other
requirements, the employer must:
· Pay for the worker’s transportation to Canada,
· Pay all fees related to recruitment,
· Provide affordable housing that meets certain
specifications,
· Pay for temporary health insurance until the worker is
eligible for provincial coverage,
· Register the workers with the provincial workplace safety
insurance provider,
· Provide an employer-employee contract,
· The wage offered to the employee must be the same paid to
a Canadian employee, and
· Demonstrate ongoing efforts to recruit and train Canadians.
Workers under
the stream may be accompanied by their spouse and children, however, spouses
are not eligible for open work permits and must apply for a work permit of
their own, and children may be subject to international tuition fees to attend
school.
Officers may
assess whether or not the worker actually intends to only remain in Canada
temporarily, and whether the worker has enough money to support any
accompanying family members.
A&M Canadian Immigration Law Corporation can assist both employers and workers with applications under the low-wage stream. As a result of the intense compliance requirements employers can lose the ability to hire foreign workers if they do not comply correctly with the criteria, and applications by workers must be well-prepared to avoid unnecessary delays, refusals, and lost expenses.
