Canada to introduce Recognized Employer Pilot for TFWs. The Canadian government has announced that the Recognized Employer Pilot will begin in September to assist in solving labor shortages.
The Recognized Employer Pilot will operate under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and will strive to lessen administrative burdens for repeat companies who have previously complied with the TFWP’s regulations.
Under the REP, qualifying employers will have access to Labour Market Impact Assessments that are valid for up to 36 months, as well as a streamlined LMIA application process.
An LMIA is a labor market assessment that Canadian firms must perform to hire foreign workers under the TFWP. The LMIA’s goal is to demonstrate that there are no workers available in Canada to do the job the business seeks.
Canada to Introduce Recognized Employer Pilot for TFWs
According to the Canadian government, these initiatives will assist eligible firms in better planning their labor needs and reducing the number of LMIA applications they must submit over the next three years. Recognized employers will also profit from a Job Bank certification, demonstrating their authorized status to prospective employees.
LMIA requirement
Employers must demonstrate a minimum of three positive LMIAs in the last five years for the same occupation using a list of occupations deemed in shortage based on Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) data. They must do so to participate in the REP. Such employers will be subject to a more stringent upfront evaluation procedure based on their TFWP history. This will ensure that the REP focuses on firms with the finest recruitment practices.
The REP will be implemented in two stages. Primary agriculture employers will begin to be able to submit applications in September 2023.
In January 2024, all other employers will have the opportunity to apply.
The REP employer application period will end in September 2024.
REP-eligible employers should anticipate a streamlined application procedure for future LMIA applications for employment on the COPS list.
Furthermore, because of streamlined LMIA forms that allow firms to hire additional temporary foreign employees during the REP’s pilot term, they should expect minimal points of communication between participating employers and the Department of Employment and Social Development (ESDC) during the pilot.
The Canadian government states that the REP is one of the measures to improve the TFWP.
According to ESDC, technical briefings will be provided to stakeholders to provide further information about the REP and the application procedure. It promises to provide more details soon.
