Employers have to pay wages to foreigners even if they do not have social insurance numbers

Canada has amended its employer compliance rules to state that foreign workers who do not have a SIN card can continue working if they are already in the process of getting one. The immigration department mentions that Canadian employers will have to pay foreign workers even if they do not have their Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the moment.

It is a mandatory measure that employers must follow. However, the workers will have to submit their application for the SIN within a period of three days after starting their employment. While they do not need their number to begin working, they will have to give it to their employer within three days of receiving it.

What is SIN?

A nine-digit number, the Social Insurance Number, allows people to work in Canada and gain access to government programs. It is mostly required for identification purposes, which is why it is illegal for people to use someone else’s number. Service Canada provides a list of the programs that need a SIN and also lists the circumstances where you will not have to provide it. The SIN is a sensitive document, and you should be careful.

Employers must have access to their employees’ SIN after hiring them. Once you get the job offer, you can secure a work permit by contacting a lawyer.

What does an employer have to do?

Canadian employers have to comply with a few stipulations when hiring foreign workers via the International Mobility Program. For example, they have to give employment in the same occupation to the foreign national along with the same wages. The working conditions should ideally be the same as what is stated in the offer of employment. Foreign workers must be paid the same wages as mentioned in the offer of employment.