OTTAWA - The federal government is considering lifetime bans and heftier fines for employers who violate tough new regulations on temporary foreign workers.
In a discussion paper published on the Employment and Social Development website, the government proposes permanent bans in addition to expanding penalties to include one-, five- and 10-year bans.
The names of the companies banned from accessing the program would be made public, the proposals state. There are currently four companies listed on the government's so-called TFW blacklist.
In efforts to deliver on its crackdown on the program announced in June, the feds are also proposing minimum fines of $500 to a maximum of $100,000 for serious violations that amount to a significant financial benefit to an employer.
The length of the ban would depend upon the type of violation, the employer's history of compliance, the severity of the violation and the size of the business, the paper states.
The government is asking stakeholders for their input into the proposals.