Maple News reports that the Canadian government is moving forward with a detailed proposal to overhaul the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in an effort to enhance worker protections and improve employer accountability. The proposed changes, recently outlined in the Canada Gazette, aim to address long-standing concerns surrounding labor exploitation and working conditions for foreign workers in Canada.
Canada’s temporary foreign worker system operates under two primary streams: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The TFWP is designed for employers who can demonstrate a need to hire foreign nationals when no Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available for the role. This requires a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). In contrast, the IMP allows foreign workers to take jobs without the need for an LMIA, often for reasons including international agreements or broader economic benefits.
Recent consultations have revealed critical vulnerabilities affecting many temporary foreign workers—including fear of employer retaliation, lack of access to healthcare, and exploitation through illegal recruitment fees. In response, the federal government is introducing a series of regulatory changes aimed at strengthening protections and tightening enforcement mechanisms.
Among the key proposals:
– Employers must provide all TFWs with a clear, printed document outlining their rights, both directly and publicly within the workplace.
– Employment agreements will be mandatory and must be shared with both the worker and the government, ensuring the job terms match the original offer.
– Abuse and retaliation in the workplace will be explicitly prohibited, with reasonable actions required to maintain a safe and respectful environment.
– Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will gain the authority to pause LMIA processing if there’s evidence suggesting non-compliance.
Additional measures include cutting the employer response time to Notices of Preliminary Findings from 30 days to 15, improving the speed of resolving suspected violations. Companies found charging TFWs illegal recruitment fees will face stricter penalties. The government also plans to empower ESDC and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to request documents from third parties like banks to investigate compliance.
Health care access will also be improved. Employers must now make reasonable efforts to support TFWs who fall ill or are injured at work—for example, by ensuring workers can easily contact health services. Moreover, all employers under the TFWP (excluding the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program) will be obligated to provide private health insurance that covers emergency care.
The federal government acknowledges the additional administrative demands these changes may place on employers but emphasizes the long-term benefits—including improved transparency, reduced worker abuse, and greater program integrity. The time commitment to comply—such as an estimated 10 extra minutes to deliver an employment agreement—is considered modest.
According to Maple News, these sweeping reforms mark a significant step toward making Canada’s temporary labor system safer and more equitable for the thousands of foreign workers who contribute to the nation’s economy each year.