Today, Canada announced a new pilot program called the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This new initiative aims to address labor shortages in Canada.
Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages made the announcement in Delta, British Columbia.
Canada is starting a new program called the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP). This program will help Canadian employers quickly hire workers they need, while still making sure the workers are treated well.
The program will last for 3 years, starting in September 2023. During this time, employers will find it easier to get a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which they need to hire foreign workers.
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What is the new Recognized Employer Pilot program?
The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) is a program that makes it easier for businesses that often hire foreign workers to do so. These are workers who come to Canada for a short time to work. The REP program helps these businesses by reducing paperwork and making the hiring process simpler.
Usually, before businesses can hire foreign workers, they have to prove that they really need them and that there aren’t enough Canadian workers available. This proof is called a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
The REP program is for businesses that have proven at least three times in the past five years that they need foreign workers for certain jobs. These jobs are in short supply in Canada, which means there aren’t enough local workers available to do them.
Benefits of the Recognized Employer Pilot Program
When businesses are part of the Recognized Employer Pilot program, they get some benefits:
- They can get permission to hire foreign workers for up to 3 years, instead of the usual shorter period.
- They can use a simpler application process when they want to hire more foreign workers in the future.
Program Implementation in Two Phases
- Phase 1 – Agriculture Industry: Starting in September 2023, businesses in the farming sector can apply for the 2024 season.
- Phase 2 – Other Industries: From January 2024, businesses in other industries can also apply for the program.
The application period for both phases will end in September 2024.
Employers who are expected to meet the requirements for the REP (Recognized Employer Pilot Program) will be invited to sign up using a special application that is different from the regular application for hiring foreign workers.
Employers can ask to use this application to apply for both recognized status under REP and permission to hire foreign workers (LMIA) at the same time.
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will decide if the employer qualifies for the REP by looking at how they have participated in the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program before.
Even if an employer is not given recognized status, they can still hire foreign workers through the TFW Program. The department will keep evaluating their permission to hire foreign workers (LMIA).
Eligibility and Application
To join the Recognized Employer Pilot Program, businesses are evaluated based on their previous use of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. The government checks if they followed the rules while hiring foreign workers before. Accepted businesses can use a simpler application form designed for the REP program.
Two Application Methods
- Online Portal: Businesses can use a secure online portal to submit their REP application.
- PDF Application: If online submission isn’t feasible, businesses can email a special PDF application form.
Benefits for Participating Businesses
Businesses that get accepted into the REP program can look forward to:
- Easier paperwork when they want to hire more foreign workers for certain jobs.
- Less need to talk to the government during the application process.
- They will be marked as a good employer in a job database, which can make more workers interested in working for them.
“Canada is taking the opportunity to invest in our economic future by recruiting talent from around the world to help fill labour market gaps and skills shortages. Today’s announcement is a prime example of one of the many ways the Government of Canada is working toward an even more prosperous economy by making it easier for employers to recruit the talent they need.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said to CBC News
