Entry of Foreign Workers into Canada

1
Entry of Foreign Workers into Canada

• The Future of the Pacific Labour Market
• June 29, 2006

2
Purpose

• To provide an overview of the general process and
  relevant information on the entry of foreign
  workers into Canada
• General information
• Profile of temporary foreign workers
• Governmental process
• Notable points related to foreign workers in
  agriculture

3
Overview

• The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
  regulates the entry of all temporary foreign
  workers into Canada
• Jointly managed between Citizenship and
  Immigration Canada with support from Human
  Resources and Social Development Canada
• HRSDCs role is to review employer applications
  for foreign workers and issue an opinion on the
  likely impact on the Canadian labour market
• CICs role is to review applications from foreign
  workers and issue work permits
• The entry of foreign workers in Canada is driven
  by employer demand
• Process generally starts when HRSDC receives a
  request to hire a temporary foreign worker from
  an employer
• No numerical limits/quotas
• Employers may hire foreign workers in any
  occupation provided that job offer meets a set of
  standard criteria (outlined in IRPA)
• Employers recruit foreign workers who are seen as
  appropriate candidates for company regardless of
  country of origin
• Possible exemptions from HRSDC labour market
  assessment in specific circumstances (e.g.
  international trade agreements)

4
Numbers Depend on Employer Demand

• Number of foreign workers in Canada has increased
  in recent years
• From 71,390 in 1996 to 90,668 in 2004
• Further 5 increase up to third quarter of 2005
• Number of foreign workers requested by employers
  varies with economic cycle
• Flows of foreign workers increase during boom
  periods when less Canadians are unemployed

Source Facts and Figures, 2004, Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
5
Source Countries determined by employers

• US is number one source country for foreign
  workers
• 15,561 workers in 2004
• Followed by Mexico, the UK, Australia, France,
  Jamaica

Source Facts and Figures, 2004, Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
6
What skills are demanded?

• Foreign workers in managerial, professional, and
  technical/trade occupations
• Represented approximately 55of workers with
  known occupations in 2004 (33,992 FWs)
• Foreign workers in lower-skilled occupations
• Represented approximately 45of the total number
  of workers with known occupations in 2004 (29,853
  FWs)

Source Facts and Figures, Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
7
Notable Occupations

• In 2004, foreign workers in notable
  occupations/cases included
• Professional Occupations in Business
  Services 2375
• Computer Engineers, Programmers, and SAs 2537
• Specialist Physicians 756
• Family Physicians 241
• Registered Nurses 255
• University Professors 1500
• Post-secondary assistants 2247
• Cooks 419
• Live-in Caregivers 6418
• General farm workers 19462

8
Role of Canadian Government

• Role of HRSDC/Service Canada
• Under IRPA regulations, HRSDC/SC reviews
  individual employers request and assesses
  whether
• The wages and working conditions are comparable
  to those offered to Canadians working in the
  occupation
• Employers conducted reasonable efforts to hire or
  train Canadians for the job
• The hiring of the foreign worker will not affect
  a labour disputes or the employment of any
  Canadian worker involved in such a dispute
• In addition, HRSDC/SC takes into account
  potential benefits related to the entry of
  temporary foreign workers and considers whether
• d. The foreign worker is filling a labour
  shortage
• e. The employment of the foreign worker will
  directly create new job opportunities or help
  retain jobs for Canadians
• f. The foreign worker will transfer new skills
  and knowledge to Canadians
• When a positive opinion is issued by HRSDC/SC,
  the foreign national can then apply for a work
  permit from CIC

9
Role of Canadian Government (contd)

• Role of CIC
• When foreign national applies for a work permit,
  CIC
• Verifies that the job offer from the employer has
  been confirmed by HRSDC
• Ensures that worker meets temporary resident
  criteria related to criminality and security
• Certain workers pass medical tests required for
  temporary residents to Canada
• If applicant meets these criteria, CIC issues the
  work permit

10
Foreign Workers in Agriculture

• Hiring of foreign workers in agriculture in
  Canada has a number of notable features.
• 19,462 foreign workers entered in agricultural
  occupations in 2004 (primarily from Mexico and
  Caribbean countries). Large movement occurs
  every year and requires significant coordination.
• Agricultural employers still need to meet all
  regulatory requirements similarly to other
  industry sectors (i.e. wages, efforts to recruit
  Canadians, etc.).
• High level of formal cooperation between
  Government of Canada, employer associations, and
  source countries prior to entry, during stay in
  Canada, and after return to country of origin.
• Additional provisions included to ensure welfare
  of foreign workers during stay in Canada (e.g.
  signing of contract, payment of airfare, housing
  inspections).
• Annual review meetings including all parties are
  in place to review movement and make
  policy/program changes as appropriate.

11
Links
For more information on hiring temporary foreign
workers, and requirements to work in Canada,
please consult HRSDC and CIC websites
at http//www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/nav/top_na
v/program/fw.shtml http//www.cic.gc.ca/english/w
ork/index.html
12
ANNEX 1
Labour Market Trends in Canada

• Labour market trends for Canadians in high
  skilled occupations are very positive in the
  short and long-run, but less for Canadians in
  entry-level occupations.
• Changes in Employment
• Between 1984 and 2004, the number of employed
  Canadians with PSE increased from 4.3M to 10.4M.
• Between 1984 and 2004, the number of employed
  Canadians without PSE decreased from 7M to 5.5M.
• Unemployment Rates
• Between 1984 and 2004, the unemployment rate for
  Canadians with a university degree averaged 4.8
  (i.e. only group of Canadians to be at, or near
  full employment during 20 years and two
  recessions)
• Between 1984 and 2004, the unemployment rate for
  Canadians without PSE averaged 11.4
• Earnings and Earnings Growth
• In 2000, Canadians working full-time with a
  university education earned 61,156 and the rate
  of growth in their real earnings between 1990 and
  2000 was 4
• In 2000, Canadians working full-time with a
  high-school degree or less earned 34,631 and the
  rate of growth in their real earnings between
  1990 and 2000 was 0.8

Source Statistics Canada (Labour Force Survey)