July 31, 2013
Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Posted by: Mario D. Bellissimo
Fee for Labour Market Opinion
Effective July 31, 2013 employers must pay a processing fee of $275 for each position requested to cover the cost of a Labour Market Opinion (LMO).
Language restriction
English and French are the only languages that can be identified as a job requirement, both in LMO requests and in advertisements by employers applying to hire TFWs, unless employers can demonstrate that another language is essential for the job.
Advertising requirements
Employers must advertise available positions in Canada for at least four weeks before applying for an LMO.
In addition to advertising on the national Job Bank website or the equivalent provincial/territorial websites, employers must prove that they have used at least two other recruitment methods that are consistent with the advertising practices for the occupation.
- If hiring for a higher-skilled occupation—one of the methods must be national in scope;
- If hiring for a lower-skilled occupation—employers must demonstrate that they made efforts to target under-represented groups in the labour force.
Employers must also continue to actively seek qualified Canadians to fill the advertised positions until an LMO has been issued.
Click here to learn more about work permits and labour market opinion (LMO)