By CIC News |
The new policy will allow temporary workers to start working in 10 days instead of 10 weeks after applying for work permit
A new government policy is allowing temporary foreign workers, who already have a job offer in Canada, to start working while their application is being processed.
The government says this will drastically reduce the time it takes for a temporary worker to start a new job from 10 weeks to 10 business days.
The temporary change is part of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) response to Canada’s labour market needs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media release. Many temporary foreign workers with employer-specific work permits lost their jobs this spring and are unable to leave Canada due to reduced flights or travel restrictions. At the same time, many employers in sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, and healthcare are facing labour shortages.
Under the existing rules, temporary foreign workers with employer-specific work permits need to apply for a new permit with the name of the new employer in order to work legally in Canada. They need to wait for the work permit to be issued before they can start working at their new job.
Now temporary workers who have a job offer lined up can submit a request to IRCC to have authorization to work. The request will be reviewed in 10 days, and if approved the worker will be notified by email. They can then start working at their new job.