Quebec has become the first Canadian province to announce new measures that will help to retain temporary foreign workers in the province.
The government of Canada and the province of Quebec have reached an agreement after months of negotiations. The province has declared to announce three new measures that will provide support to employers and businesses facing acute labor shortages.
The shortage of labor has existed in Quebec even before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the situation has now worsened and there is a lack of manpower in the province while the economy is in the process of recovery.
Following are the new measures:
- Reduce the restrictions in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and make it more flexible;
- Issue a work permit to people with a CSQ living outside Canada and who are waiting for their PR;
- Providing open work permit to CSQ holders in Quebec who are yet to get a PR.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
As of now, Canadian companies can hire foreign workers in a proportion of 10 percent of the workforce. Now, this percentage will be doubled and increased to 20 percent.
This increase in the percentage of foreign workers will be implemented in certain high-demand and low-skilled occupations that are eligible for facilitated processing. The government of Quebec will identify such occupation sectors that can benefit from this new measure.
PR applicants: Open work permit
The federal government has approved Quebec’s request to provide work permits to temporary foreign workers who are waiting for their PR status.
Temporary foreign workers can get an open work permit in Canada while they are still waiting for a decision on their PR application. However, foreign workers in Quebec do not qualify for this procedure.
So, the new measure will allow foreign workers to work in Quebec while they get their Permanent Residence status.
From August 31, 2021, workers who have a CSQ under the skilled worker category will be able to apply for an open work permit if their PR application is under processing. And the duration of the work permit will be 24 months. Also, the partner or spouse of the principal applicant will also be able to apply for the open work permit.
New pathway under the IMP
Quebec and the government of Canada have decided to launch a new platform under the International Mobility Program that will be known as IMP+.
Under this program, there would an annual issuance of nearly 7,000 work permits exempt from an LMIA requirement.
