“Come Work in Our Country:” Canada Amends Rules to Allow Employers Hire More Nigerians, Others
- Canada has amended its rules to allow companies or employers to hire more foreigners temporarily
- The Minister for Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages announced the changes
- The report said the programme will start January 1, 2024, and last through August 2023
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The Canadian Minister For Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, Randy Boissnnault, has announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Workforce Solutions Road Map to enable employers to tackle critical labour shortages via the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP).
The road map is a constant measure to allow employers to respond to labour and economic conditions in Canada as they happen by adjusting the program.
Source: Getty Images
The announcement on Thursday, October 26, 2023, has created or maintained changes in several sectors.
Top sectors with acute labour shortages in Canada
The sectors include:
Food Manufacturing, Wood Product Manufacturing, Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing, Accommodation and Food Services, Construction, Hospitals, and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities.
Employers may continue to hire up to 30% of their workforce in low-wage positions through the TFWP.
The new rule caps employment at two years and would be upheld for positions under the provincial or minimum wage that applies to some territories.
Labour shortages persist across several sectors in Canada
According to the statement, the Labour Market Assessments will have a reduced validity from the former 18 minimum months to a 12-month maximum, effective January 1, 2024.
The programme will require employers to annually review temporary workers’ wages to ensure they are commensurable to the existing wage rates for their profession.
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The new measures will last until August 30, 2024, with the provision to adjust them according to labour and economic conditions.
Several sectors in Canada have continued to battle persistent labour shortages.
Unemployment remains high in Canada
The unemployment rate in the country was estimated at 5.5% for September, which has remained steady for the last three months despite the influx of foreigners.
According to reports, employer demands for temporary workers have spiked by 40% compared to last year, indicating lingering vacancies.
The TFWP is Immigration and Citizenship Canada’s vehicle to address domestic labour shortages via immigration.
Under the scheme, foreigners may be hired by Canadian companies Canada to work in Canada.
Canada introduces technology to improve work permit applications for Nigerians, others
Legit.ng reported that Canada is increasing its automation technologies to speedily process Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and work permit extensions.
The new automated technologies will be utilized to help process work permit extensions and PGWP applications of their complexity.
A work permit is a legal document that formally grants permission for an individual to look for employment, secure employment, and generate revenue in a foreign nation.
Source: Legit.ng
