Canada has made some major changes in Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Employers hiring for foreign workers through Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) must now enable Direct Apply feature on the Canadian Job Bank.
This new rule is effective immediately and it’s designed to strengthen hiring transparency and ensure Canadian Permanent Residents and Citizens get priority. LMIA is process which grants work permits to foreign nationals for Canadian jobs.
New Rules for Employers
- Job postings on Job Bank must have Direct Apply enabled. This will make applications easier to apply.
- Employers must review all applications received through Job Bank.
- At least two other recruitment methods remain mandatory (e.g., company website, LinkedIn).
- Non-compliance can lead to LMIA rejection or Job Bank restrictions. This means more scrutiny of LMIA process.
Benefits for Job Seekers
- One-click applications directly through Job Bank.
- No need to create multiple accounts on employer websites.
- Faster access to LMIA-based job opportunities
Impact on Immigration and International Students
This new LMIA rule will be beneficial for Canadian citizens plus there will be some other impacts such as:
Canadian Citizens and PRs Get Priority
Employers now have to prove that they considered a Canadian for the role via the job bank first which will make hiring of foreign national hard.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Tighter Controls
Canada wants to reduce the reliance on temporary foreign workers to reduce the burden on Canadian housing and ease the current high inflation.
Some International Graduates May Face More Competition
Well international students doesn’t rely on LMIA’s for their work permits because they get Post Graduation Work Permit under International Mobility Program (IMP) after graduation but some international graduates do utilize LMIA to extend their work permits in Canada.
It’s important to note that if you study for one year then you only get one year of PGWP but if you study for 2 years then you become eligible for 3 years of PGWP. International students utilize this time period to gain valuable Canadian work experience making you eligible in Express Entry streams and PNP streams.
Exemptions
Jobs not affected include:
- Certain academics (visiting professors, postdoctoral fellows).
- Camp counsellors.
- Entertainment roles.
- In-home caregivers