Post a comment
Print articleFederal Government Makes it Easier to Recruit Some Temporary Foreign Workers
December, 2006 - Ms. Melanie Samuels
Human Resources and Skills Development/Service Canada (“HRSDC”) recently implemented Regional Occupations Lists (the “Lists”). The Lists are meant to “assist employers who are experiencing difficulty filling job vacancies due to labour market shortages.”
A key aspect of the initiative is a reduction in the amount and the type of advertising an employer must undertake before receiving authorization from HRSDC to offer employment to a foreign worker whose occupation is on the List.
Previously, employers had to satisfy HRSDC that they had conducted a comprehensive recruiting effort prior to obtaining a labour market opinion which allowed the employer to offer a position to a foreign worker.
Now, employers wishing to hire foreign workers for occupations that are on the Lists will only have to engage in minimal advertising efforts. In particular, if an occupation is on the Lists, the employer will only be required to:
- advertise on the federal government’s national job bank (or its equivalent in some provinces/territories) for a minimum of seven calendar days; and/or
- demonstrate they have established ongoing recruitment mechanisms, such as using recognised job internet sites, union websites, professional associations and corporate websites.
For lower level positions, the employer will be required to satisfy both these conditions.
Notably, employers will still need to meet all other requirements of the foreign temporary worker program and the processing time for obtaining a labour market opinion relating to occupations on the List is, at present, the same as for a regular application (10-15 weeks).
Melanie C. Samuels
A key aspect of the initiative is a reduction in the amount and the type of advertising an employer must undertake before receiving authorization from HRSDC to offer employment to a foreign worker whose occupation is on the List.
Previously, employers had to satisfy HRSDC that they had conducted a comprehensive recruiting effort prior to obtaining a labour market opinion which allowed the employer to offer a position to a foreign worker.
Now, employers wishing to hire foreign workers for occupations that are on the Lists will only have to engage in minimal advertising efforts. In particular, if an occupation is on the Lists, the employer will only be required to:
- advertise on the federal government’s national job bank (or its equivalent in some provinces/territories) for a minimum of seven calendar days; and/or
- demonstrate they have established ongoing recruitment mechanisms, such as using recognised job internet sites, union websites, professional associations and corporate websites.
For lower level positions, the employer will be required to satisfy both these conditions.
Notably, employers will still need to meet all other requirements of the foreign temporary worker program and the processing time for obtaining a labour market opinion relating to occupations on the List is, at present, the same as for a regular application (10-15 weeks).
Melanie C. Samuels
