Foreign Worker Quick Links:
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Employing foreign workers can be an essential part of a company's business strategy. Foreign workers can fill labour shortages in Canada and bring new skills and knowledge to help the country's economy grow.
HIRING STEPS :
In almost all cases, foreign workers must have a valid work permit to work in Canada. When hiring a foreign worker, you, the employer must generally :
- Submit an HRSDC Foreign Worker Application for a labour market opinion (LMO) to the HRSDC Foreign Worker office responsible for your area.
Before confirming a job offer, HRSDC considers whether :
- The job offer is genuine;
- The wages and working conditions are comparable to those offered to Canadians working in the occupation;
- Employers conducted reasonable efforts to hire or train Canadians for the job;
- The foreign worker is filling a labour shortage;
- The employment of the foreign worker will directly create new job opportunities or help retain jobs for Canadians;
- The foreign worker will transfer new skills and knowledge to Canadians; and
- The hiring of the foreign worker will not affect a labour disputes or the employment of any Canadian worker involved in such a dispute.
Learn more about the HRSDC LMO assessment criteria, noting that a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the province is also required for jobs in Quebec.
- Once HRSDC approves the job offer, send a copy of the HRSDC LMO confirmation letter to the foreign worker.
- Inform the foreign worker to apply for a work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Next, CIC decides whether the foreign worker will get a work permit according to the requirements to work and reside temporarily in Canada.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS :
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), there are special cases when employers do not need an HRSDC labour market opinion to hire a foreign worker, and/or the foreign worker may not need a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) work permit.
Also, please note that special criteria apply for employers hiring foreign workers in some industry sectors and occupations including :
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