Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - May 2009
Sources say that the government is planning to “crack down” on abuses to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, in an attempt to better protect the rights of prospective immigrants.
The unconfirmed changes would entail a definitive narrowing of the definition of an acceptable job offer to a foreign worker from a Canadian company.
For many immigrants, particularly those who are in the trades and possibly lacking the points rewarded to higher education levels, a pending job offer in Canada makes a crucial difference in their residency application.
However, concern is rising as more job offers appear to be illegitimate and more foreign workers are seeing their rights abused.
Under the current system, a suitable employer is defined as anyone with at least one employee and the offer is evaluated based upon that company’s labour needs. Last year, almost 4,000 job offers were evaluated, with an approval rate of 80 per cent, up 24 per cent from the year prior.
According to The Star’s sources, the government is considering adjusting the system so that it would become almost impossible for small businesses to hire foreign workers. Among these reported adjustments - the only qualifying businesses would be those that are at least five years in operation, with at least five employees and minimum annual revenue of $2.5 million.
Officials for Citizenship and Immigration Canada would only acknowledge that the department is reviewing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and seeking ways to ensure compliance of Canadian employers.
Source: Toronto Star
