Canada’s Strengthened Measures for Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs)  

The Government of Canada takes its duty seriously to safeguard the rights of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs). Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) with IRCC Minister has issued 13 new legal amendments relating to (TFWs). According to these regulations, the health and safety of workers in Canada are one of the key priorities.

Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser says that in Canada, the rights of all workers are protected by law. With this, ESDC says these laws will protect TFWs from abuse and harassment in Canada.

ESDC is responsible to protect all Temporary Foreign Workers in the following ways:

• Permit employers to provide all information about TFWs’ rights in Canada.
• Ban reprisal by employers against workers.
• Restrict employers from charging recruitment fees to workers.
• Prohibit employers from holding the workers accountable for their actions.
• Employers must provide access to health care services to employees including private health insurance.

These regulations will terminate all the bad activators from participating in the program. This will improve the program’s ability to conduct investigations for those who do not follow the rules.

What is the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP)?

The program is meant to fulfill the urgent labour requirements in the Canadian markets. TFWP allows employers to hire workers globally by attaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Getting an LMIA is an important step for an employer under this program. As per the amendment, ESDC can also suspend new LMIAs of employers if any non-compliance is found against workers’ safety.

New Measures for Temporary Foreign Program

In the TFW Program Roundtable Meeting, ESDC suggested important measures to improve the TFWP:

• Improving inspection tools and training to strengthen the quality and timeliness of inspections
• Take help from enhanced tip line service including live agents
• Allowing workers to report any situation of abuse or misuse of the program in the privacy
• Raise employers’ awareness and rights to support compliance with the TFWP’s conditions
• Expand meetings with consulates, provinces, and local authorities, to identify concerns that require immediate attention or action by the department.

Secured Rights of the Workers

The workers under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) enjoy the same safety rights as others in Canada. Employers in Canada are legally responsible to offer a workplace that is free of harassment, or abuse at the workplace. Also, it is strictly against the legal system to not pay wages to an employee for their work.