Canada inviting Family Members of Migrant Workers to Work

To address the growing labour shortage, Canada is set to open its employment doors to over 200,000 family members of migrant workers.

From January 2023, it will expand work eligibility for spouses and working-age children of all workers.

This is a temporary two-year measure and will be introduced in a phased manner.

This could include families of workers in health care, trades and hospitality.

The measure will begin with the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program and the International Mobility Program.

Between January and October 2022, Canada has issued over 645,000 work permits, nearly four times the amount issued over the same period in 2021.

A country-wise break up is not available but India is a significant source country.

Pavan Dhillon, a Canadian immigration attorney, stated that currently, only spouses of some high-skilled workers are eligible to work.

This narrow category of spouses can obtain an open work permit.

This is set to change in a phased manner and will help Canadian employers meet their staffing needs across all skill levels.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the temporary measure will be implemented in three phases to ensure its successful implementation.

Phase one will allow family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program to apply for an open work permit.

Phase two aims to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, following consultations.

Phase three will include consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess operational feasibility for expanding the measure to family members of agricultural workers.

Immigration minister Sean Fraser said:

“Everywhere I go, employers across the country continue to identify a lack of workers as their biggest obstacle.”

“This announcement will help employers find the workers they need to fill their labour gaps by expanding work permits to family members at all skill levels, resulting in family members of over 200,000 foreign workers being able to work in Canada.

“Our government is going to continue helping employers overcome labour shortages, while also supporting the wellbeing of workers and uniting their families.”

Temporary Foreign Workers bring essential skills to Canadian businesses.

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite there being a decline in numbers, the importance of migrant workers was highlighted as many filled essential service jobs, particularly in the agriculture sector.