Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Pilot program seeks to reward companies that better protect temporary foreign workers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Aug, 2023 12:32 PM
  • Pilot program seeks to reward companies that better protect temporary foreign workers

Ottawa introduced a new three-year pilot program Tuesday that would incentivize employers to follow worker-protection rules by making it easier for them to hire temporary foreign workers. 

Under the "recognized employer pilot" program, companies with a good track record would only need to prove that they require temporary foreign workers every three years, instead of every 18 months. 

The employer's trusted status would also be flagged to potential workers in the government's job bank.

The new pilot will focus on "the protections and support that improve workplace conditions for temporary foreign workers," Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said at a press conference in the Southwestern Ontario town of Ruthven on Tuesday. 

The temporary foreign worker program is designed to attract workers from abroad to fill short-term labour market gaps in cases where no Canadians or permanent residents are available. 

Employers involved in the pilot program will need to go through a more rigorous upfront assessment, Boissonnault said. 

Agricultural companies will be able to apply to be part of the pilot in September, and all other employers will be eligible in January. 

The pilot will simplify the hiring process by lifting the administrative burden of having to resubmit their paperwork every 18 months, said Jennifer Wright, executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council.

"The government of Canada is addressing an important impediment to addressing labour shortages that have harmed the competitiveness of Canada's agriculture sector," she said in a statement Tuesday. 

The government set aside $29.3 million over three years for the program in its 2022 federal budget, referring to it at the time as the "trusted employer model."

Allegations of abuse have plagued the temporary foreign worker program for years.

Boissonnault said language barriers, social and physical isolation and a lack of awareness about their rights all make workers more vulnerable to abuse, and the government has attempted to curb the problems with more oversight.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, more than 2,100 inspections revealed 117 employers were found to be "out of compliance." Of those, 94 employers were fined a total of $1.5 million, 23 received warnings and six were banned from the program for five years. 

"The system is working, keeping workers safe," Boissonnault said. 

He said his office has launched a tip line for workers and advocates who witness wrongdoing, which is accessible in 200 languages.

MORE National ARTICLES

Coquitlam RCMP looking for woman who damaged 400 vehicles

Coquitlam RCMP looking for woman who damaged 400 vehicles
The Mounties say the suspect has a heavy build with shoulder-length blonde hair and she was believed to be driving a 2008 to 2013 Ford Escape. The vehicles were damaged during three separate incidents between January and April.  

Coquitlam RCMP looking for woman who damaged 400 vehicles

Road closures in New Westminster

Road closures in New Westminster
Due to a police incident 6th Street is closed from Princess to Hamilton. Seventh Avenue is also closed from 5th Street to Eighth Street.

Road closures in New Westminster

Canada's alcohol policies get a failing grade

Canada's alcohol policies get a failing grade
Researchers say the project looked at several different alcohol-related policy areas, including minimum pricing, taxation, and advertising, and their results include recommendations such as mandated warning labels and reduced availability hours.

Canada's alcohol policies get a failing grade

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC
The Ministry of Public Safety says Ottawa's funding will enhance 24-hour crisis hotlines run by the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. It says the province-wide crisis lines provide risk-assessment and safety planning services to those experiencing gender-based violence. 

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam
While a 10-year-old girl was walking home from Panorama Heights Elementary school located at 1455 Johnson Street in Coquitlam, they were approached by two unknown adult females in a vehicle. The suspects asked the girl to get into the vehicle for treats. The girl ran away to a nearby Coquitlam City Bylaw officer for assistance.  

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run
R-C-M-P say officers pulled over an stolen vehicle with four people inside. They say the occupants ran away when officers told them they were under arrest, including one man who was holding what was believed to be a weapon. 

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run