The Canadian government is raising the minimum wage for high-wage temporary foreign workers, effective November 8, 2024. This measure aims to encourage companies to hire more Canadians, impacting up to 34,000 workers and affecting businesses employing foreign labor.
The new policy increases the minimum wage for high-wage temporary foreign workers by 20% above the provincial median, impacting employers in sectors like healthcare and construction. For instance, Ontario's requirement will rise to $34.07 per hour. This aims to ensure fair wages and prioritize Canadian workers by making it more challenging for companies to hire foreign labor unnecessarily.
Employers will face stricter standards for hiring foreign workers under the LMIA program, including more rigorous business verification and compliance checks. Attestations from lawyers or accountants will no longer suffice.
These measures require detailed business documentation, on-site inspections, and adherence to new compliance protocols to prevent misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and protect Canadian workers. Employers must demonstrate their active recruitment efforts for Canadian workers, and the government may conduct random audits to verify compliance.
These changes aim to prioritize Canadian hires by making foreign labor less accessible without proof of necessity. The agriculture sector is unaffected, but other industries, especially those employing low-wage workers, such as hospitality, retail, and manufacturing, will face new caps on foreign labor, ensuring Canadian workers have priority access to jobs.
The wage increase and stricter LMIA requirements mean that hiring foreign workers will become more challenging for Canadian employers, potentially reducing the number of opportunities available to temporary workers. For those who do get hired, these changes ensure better wages and working conditions. Immigrants and potential workers should be informed about these new standards.
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