Project to cut red tape for migrant worker employer to launch next month

The federal government is launching a three-year pilot project aimed at addressing labour shortages for employers who hire migrant workers. It also aims to make sure those workers are safe from abuse.

The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) is designed to ease the administrative burden and simplify the hiring process for employers who have historically complied with the requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.

The project "will cut red tape for eligible employers — those who demonstrate the highest level of protection for workers — and make it easier for them to access the labour they need to fill jobs that are essential to Canada's economy and food security," said federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault in a news release.

Traditionally, before submitting an application to hire a migrant worker, employers would need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). That assessment is to confirm there is a need for such workers and that there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who can do the job. 

Under the REP, employers in good standing can access various LMIAs, as well as a simplified LMIA application, the government says.

These employers will also have a designation on the TFW job portal showing their recognized status to prospective employees.

"This is something that is much needed; something that can streamline the process that can help take a bit of the administrative burden of the shoulders of growers, but at the same time, maintain the integrity of the inspection regime and the protections in place that are looking after the health and safety of the workers as well," said Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk, who is also the parliamentary secretary to Boissonnault.

One of the businesses that is set to benefit from the new pilot is DC Farms in Ruthven, Ont. The farm's operator says if they didn't have access to the original TFW program, they would struggle to stay afloat.

"In the past, there's been times where we've been down," said Michael Del Ciancio, operator of DC Farms. "We hired local individuals and sometimes it works but it poses a challenge."

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the pilot is "a prime example of one of the many ways the Government of Canada is working toward an even more prosperous economy by making it easier for employers to recruit the talent they need."

But an immigration policy and labour expert says as far as red tape, 98.6 per cent of employer applications to hire migrant workers were approved last year.

"There has been this movement lobbying, very active lobbying, very visible lobbying from the business community to try and reduce the red tape to reduce to make accessing these workers easier," said Mikal Skuterud, an economics professor at the University of Waterloo.

Skuterud says the new pilot is an example of the federal government making it easier for employers to access workers. He added that the TFW program started as a way to bring in agriculture workers, but has now expanded to more industries which offer low-wage jobs.

"Increases in temporary foreign workers within workplaces serves to lower wages for everybody within those workplaces and it has the potential, of course, to lead to spillovers and competing firms as well," Skuterud said.

The REP project will be available to primary agriculture employers as of next month, while all other employers can begin to apply in January 2024.