Canada intensifies $48 million plan to protect temporary foreign workers from scams

The Canadian federal government has intensified its efforts to penalize employers violating the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) rules, issuing $2.1 million in Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) in 2023.

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program remains vital for addressing labor and skill shortages when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are unavailable. The program, managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), aims to ensure foreign workers are protected during their stay in Canada, the government said in a statement.

In the last fiscal year, ESDC conducted 2,122 inspections under the TFW Program, finding 94% of employers compliant. However, non-compliant employers faced $2.1 million in Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs), a 36% increase from the previous year. Additionally, 12 employers were banned from the program, up from seven in the prior year. Non-compliant employers are publicly listed on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) website.

Notable violations included:

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• A food service employer fined $152,000 and banned for two years for improper hiring practices and working conditions.
• An agriculture sector employer fined $46,000 and banned for five years for documentation failures and inaccurate job descriptions.
• A transport sector employer fined $135,000 and banned for 10 years for failing to provide an abuse-free environment and necessary documents.

To enhance the Employer Compliance Regime, the Canadian government has allocated $48 million over two years, starting in 2023-2024. This funding supports the hiring of more inspectors, maintenance of a worker protection tip line, outreach to employers and consulates, and the implementation of rapid response mechanisms for urgent worker safety issues.

The TFW Program’s compliance inspections aim to ensure adherence to program requirements, with penalties for violations impacting worker safety, wages, and working conditions. Violations categorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) can lead to AMPs and program bans.A confidential tip line, operational 24/7 with multilingual live agents available during extended hours, supports workers in reporting abuse or mistreatment. An online tool is also available for reporting suspected abuse or program misuse.The government continues to collaborate with various stakeholders to strengthen the program and better support and protect temporary foreign workers in Canada.