Ottawa: The government of Canada today announced new amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Temporary Foreign Workers).
These 13 new regulatory amendments include measures to strengthen protections for TFWs and will enhance the integrity of the TFW Program and the International Mobility Program (IMP), administered by IRCC.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough said that the new regulations will better protect TFWs and help to prevent mistreatment and abuse during their stay in Canada by:mandating that employers provide all TFWs with information about their rights in Canada; prohibiting reprisal by employers against workers, for instance against those who come forward with complaints; and,
prohibiting employers from charging recruitment fees to workers and holding them accountable for the actions of recruiters in this regard.
In addition, employers are now required to provide reasonable access to health care services. Employers using the TFW Program, are also required to provide private health insurance when needed.
He said that these regulations will deter bad actors from participating in the program, and will improve the program’s ability to conduct inspections and administer appropriate consequences for those who do not follow the rules. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) can also suspend the processing of any new Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) if there is reason to suspect that an employer’s non-compliance with the new conditions would put a foreign worker’s health or safety at serious risk.