Canadian Employers

Canadian employers who wish to fill immediate skills and labour shortages may hire temporary foreign workers. To qualify, you must meet the following basic requirements before hiring a foreign worker:

have a legitimate business in good standing and has been operational for at least a year
demonstrate that you have made reasonable efforts to find and employ Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents for the position being offered
provide the foreign worker with a genuine job offer, a prevailing wage for the position being offered and proper working conditions
apply for and receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Canadian employers have several options in hiring foreign workers for either temporary or permanent work in Canada. Macropus Immigration and Visa Services can assist Canadian employers in obtaining a positive LMIA and Canada work permit for foreign workers.

As an employer, what are my obligations to temporary foreign workers?

It is your responsibility as an employer to ensure that your temporary workers:

have valid work permits
follow the conditions and time limits outlined on their work permit
are receiving their wages, performing their tasks and proper working conditions as outlined in your Job Offer

It is also your responsibility as an employer to:

ensure compliance with provincial, territorial or federal employment laws
ensure that your business remains active and in good standing during the period of the work permit validity
make reasonable efforts to provide a workplace free of abuse
help the temporary workers obtain the correct identification and documents (for example, social insurance number and medical documents)

Supports for employers

In recognition of the important role that Internationally Trained Workers (ITWs) play in helping to address labour shortages and the important role that employers play in contributing to the successful integration of ITWs, the government of Canada provides funding for various community services to help these ITWs settle and feel at home.

The Settlement Program provides services and training to help employers attract, hire and retain newcomers. These include opportunities for employers to connect with newcomers in person and online through job fairs, job banks, and job matching services coordinated by various service providers. Workplace Diversity training also helps employers create a welcoming environment.

Macropus Liaison Network provides information to Canadian employers on different immigration programs that may support their hiring needs and help drive economic growth.

Employers can contact Macropus Immigration and Visa Services to get up-to-date information for both temporary and permanent economic immigration programs and to learn more about the Global Skills Strategy.