Canada tightens the Temporary Foreign Worker Program: higher wages, fewer approvals

On October 21, 2024, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Randy Boissonnault, unveiled updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. The changes, set to take effect on November 8, aim to protect Canadian workers while addressing labour market needs. Key changes include a 20% increase in the wage threshold for high-wage Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and stricter business legitimacy verification processes. These adjustments are expected to result in 34,000 more low-wage LMIA requests and potentially 20,000 fewer approved positions, reshaping the landscape for employers and foreign workers.