Median hourly wage updated for 2020 Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada

Shelby Thevenot
Published: June 1, 2020

Median hourly wages have gone up in most Canadian provinces and territories.

Canadian employers who are hiring foreign employees use the provincial and territorial median hourly wage to know which requirements they have to meet for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

The wage they are offering, and the location for the position determines if the employers need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the stream for high-wage or low-wage positions.

Get help with Canadian work permits

The new median wage requirements went into effect on May 11.

 

Hiring foreign workers amid coronavirus travel restrictions

Canada is working to help employers navigate the red tape involved in hiring foreign workers in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC) have applied the following measures to all new and existing LMIA applications:

  • employers do not need to submit minor administrative changes to the LMIA that would not change the terms and conditions;
  • recruitment requirements for LMIAs in agriculture and agri-food sectors are being waived until October 31, 2020;
  • LMIAs for occupations in the agriculture and agri-food sectors are being prioritized;
  • the maximum duration of employment under LMIAs has increased from one to two years for employers of workers in the low-wage stream as part of a three-year pilot;
  • employers applying under the Agricultural stream or Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program can submit a previously valid Housing Inspection Report; and
  • the name change process has been expedited for employers who need to put a different person’s name on the LMIA for reasons related to COVID-19.

Canada is also offering resources for employers to make their operations safer for new foreign employees, including a $50 million initiative to allow workers to complete the mandatory isolation period.

Workers being hired from abroad will only be allowed to cross the border if they are coming for what the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) would deem an essential reason. If a foreign national is coming to work in an occupation that supports critical infrastructure they will likely be admitted, provided that they can demonstrate that their position requires them to be physically present in Canada and they have an adequate quarantine plan.

Get help with Canadian work permits

Need assistance with the Temporary Work Permit application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com.

© 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
Newcomer access to credit in Canada improves over time, according to new study
newcomer credit article september 2023
IRCC invites candidates in first ever category-based Express Entry draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations
Waterfall near Victoria on Vancouver Island.
Most popular options to come to Canada from the United Arab Emirates
Multicultural business team putting their hands together in the middle of a circle while standing and smiling
What counts as eligible work experience for immigration through Express Entry?
Business people having a meeting in a tech company
Top Stories
Parental education and income have positive effect on educational attainment of childhood immigrants
Newcomer access to credit in Canada improves over time, according to new study
IRCC to introduce new automated tools for faster PGWP and work permit extension processing
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Work
IRCC to introduce new automated tools for faster PGWP and work permit extension processing
A woman looks into a camera with two professional looking people behind her. IRCC is set to introduce new automated tools to assist with PGWP and WP processing.
How to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker
Happy truck driver looking through side window while driving his truck
Top 10 questions about Canada’s work permit process
Toronto skyline
Canada ranked the most attractive destination for immigrant entrepreneurs in 2023
Entrepreneurs
Link copied to clipboard