Changes in the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 10, 2020POEA ADVISORY NO. 80-20CHANGES IN THE CANADIAN TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM (TFWP) DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMICAfter the conduct of stakeholder consultations, Minister Patty Hajdu of the Canadian Ministry of Health, and Minister Carla Qualtrough of the Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, shared a joint letter outlining the Government of Canada's expectations from employers in the compliance with public health and safety requirements when hiring labor through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Aside from the continued processing of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications (LMIAs), the following measures are being applied proactively to all existing LMIA applications under review, as well as to new applications as they are received:• employers are not required to submit minor administrative changes to the LMIA that would not change the terms and conditions of employment;• recruitment requirements for LMIAs in key occupations related to the agriculture and agri-food sectors are being waived until October 31, 2020;• LMIAs in key occupations related to the agriculture and agri-food sectors will be prioritized for processing;• the maximum...