Maple News reports that Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is under renewed scrutiny as federal ministers signal a firm shift toward stricter regulation and oversight. The move comes after recent reports of widespread abuse and exploitation of foreign workers, prompting calls for urgent reform.
On August 6, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault announced a series of proposed measures aimed at curbing employer misuse of the TFWP. Key initiatives include maintaining a 20% cap on the hiring of temporary foreign workers — even for those applying via the dual intent pathway toward permanent residency — and strengthening the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process with increased inspections in high-risk sectors. A separate labour stream tailored for the Agriculture and Seafood Processing industries is also in development.
To ensure program integrity, the government is considering several additional reforms, such as increasing LMIA processing fees, applying stricter eligibility requirements for employers (including a history of layoffs or business tenure), and restricting access to the low-wage stream of the program in regions or industries prone to repeated violations.
Minister Boissonnault stressed that the TFWP must not replace Canadian workers but remains a last-resort solution to fill labour shortages. Immigration Minister Marc Miller echoed these sentiments, acknowledging that while the program is not fundamentally broken, its low-wage stream merits closer examination amid growing evidence that it could be suppressing wages for both Canadian and migrant workers.
These discussions follow a July report by the United Nations that labeled the TFWP a “breeding ground” for abuse, highlighting risks to vulnerable foreign workers and increasing international pressure on the Canadian government to act decisively.
Despite the concerns, Maple News notes that Canada provides strong legal protections for temporary foreign workers. These include the right to a signed employment contract, fair pay, protection from abuse or unsafe working conditions, and access to emergency health coverage. Employers are prohibited from seizing passports, forcing unauthorized overtime, or retaliating against workers who report mistreatment.
Workers who suspect abuse can take several steps, including applying for an Open Work Permit for vulnerable workers, reporting violations to Service Canada or Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and seeking help from support organizations or workplace safety and employment standards offices.
Employers found in violation of TFWP standards may face serious penalties, including fines of up to $100,000 per infraction, bans from hiring foreign workers, or permanent exclusion from the program. These steps reflect a growing commitment by Canadian authorities to uphold labour rights and restore trust in the nation’s immigration programs.