Criteria for Employers to protect foreign workers against Coronavirus

Recently, the Canadian employers requested the government to allow temporary foreign workers to travel to Canada despite the travel restrictions. So, the government permitted the entry of foreign workers in the country. However, the government has issued guidelines for employers in Canada to protect the temporary foreign workers and help in combating the spread of the coronavirus. It is compulsory that people who are traveling to Canada must isolate themselves for a period of 14 days. They are not allowed to stop anywhere on the way to their destination from the airport, not even at the grocery store. The Canadian employers are bestowed with the responsibility of protecting the foreign workers as well as Canadian residents.

Following are the nine criteria that are mandatory for Canadian employers to follow:

During the self-isolation period of the employees, employers must ensure that they follow all the laws and policies that are related to the employer-employee relationship.
In the 14-day self-isolation period, employers must give regular pay to their foreign workers. The workers who have come to Canada through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program must be paid as per the provisions of the contract. And the other workers should get pay as per a minimum of 30 work hours per week. The rate of pay should be the same as that mentioned on the Labor Market Impact Assessment.
Under any circumstance, the employer must not allow the worker to work before the 14-day self-isolation period is over. Only those workers will be allowed to work who belong to the essential services issued by the Chief Public Health Officer. Also, employers cannot demand from the workers for any other work during the isolation period.
Employers should stay in contact with the employees to know if they have developed any symptoms of coronavirus and keep a check on their health during the self-isolation period.
Employers must ensure that they completely isolate the workers from others who are experiencing symptoms related to coronavirus and contact the health officials immediately.
Employers must arrange all the safety equipment for the workers like soap, alcohol-based sanitizer and they must ensure that workers are not bereft of proper hygiene.
Employers should impart knowledge about the COVID-19 to foreign workers. The government recommends that employers provide all the information to the workers in the language they understand. Employers can access the materials related to coronavirus developed in several languages by the Public Health Agency of Canada. They can call at 1-833-784-4397 or email at [email protected].
Quarantine Act Violations by any worker should be reported to the local law enforcement by employers or Canadian residents.
All people should follow the latest public health guidelines given by the provincial and federal governments.

A few more guidelines for Employers providing housing

The government has issued some other criteria for employers to fulfill the self-isolation requirements. Following are the guidelines:

Employers must ensure that they provide accommodations for workers who are undergoing a self-isolation period.
Employers can put workers together for self-isolation but they must make sure that the accommodation provided lets them be two meters apart. Shared facilities can be used only when there is sufficient space for distancing workers from each other. To prove compliance, employers need to take date-stamped photos of the housing facility.
All the surfaces in the housing facility must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Common areas like bathrooms and kitchens should be cleaned regularly and employers should deliver the cleaning materials.
The government recommends posting information related to preventive measures of COVID-19 in common areas of the accommodation.
Employers should see that the provided accommodations do not expose people over age 65 and people with medical conditions to the self-isolated workers.