Foreign Worker Program FLMM – LMI Working GroupForeign Worker Program

FLMM – LMI Working Group

Foreign Worker Program

Changes to Delivery September 30, 2004 Service Canada centralizes the delivery of the foreign worker program

to one delivery point in Manitoba Centralization of program in each province across Canada

Benefits Improve consistency Enable regions to response more effectively to increasing volumes Improve working relationships with partners

Foreign Worker Program

Foreign Worker Unit Partnerships

Labour Market Information Unit Citizenship and Immigration Canada Province of Manitoba Labour and Immigration Immigration Lawyers Third Party Consultants Apprenticeship Board Other Foreign Worker Units

Foreign Worker Program

Why bring a foreign worker to Manitoba?

Employing workers can be an essential part of an employers business strategy

Foreign workers can fill labour market shortages Can bring new skills and knowledge to help the economy grow

How does an employer bring a foreign worker to Manitoba?

Obtain a positive Labour Market Opinion from Service Canada The applicant must be assessed by Citizenship and Immigration

Canada A work permit must be issued to the foreign worker by CIC

Foreign Worker Program

How does an Employer get a positive Labour Market Opinion?

The Job Offer must be genuine Wages and working conditions must be comparable to Canadians

working in that occupation Employers must conduct reasonable efforts to recruit and train

Canadians The foreign worker is filling a labour shortage The employment of the foreign worker will create new job opportunities

or help retain jobs for Canadians The foreign worker will transfer new skills and knowledge to Canadians The hiring of the foreign worker will not affect a labour dispute or the

employment of any Canadian worker involved in such a dispute

Foreign Worker Program

The following occupations and industries have specific processes for employers planning to hire foreign workers

Academics

Seasonal Agricultural Workers

Film and Entertainment

Information Technology

Live-in- caregivers

Temporary Worker Program

Pilot Project For Occupations requiring at most a High School Diploma or Job Specific Training (Low Skill Pilot Project)

Employer must pay the workers airfare to and from their home country

The worker can not stay for more than 12 months

The worker must return to their home country for 4 months before applying for another work permit

Some individuals apply to the Provincial Nominee Program within the 12 months and are able to stay longer

Foreign Worker Program

Applications and Confirmations are on the rise

These numbers are a reflection of a trend we expect will continue

2002 – 2064

2003 – 2168

2004 – 2416

2005 – 2945

2006 – 3028

National unemployment rate 6.2 per cent (30 year low) Manitoba unemployment rate 4.6 per cent

Foreign Worker Program

Top Ten Occupations in 2006:

General Farm Workers Truck Drivers Live in Care Givers Musicians and Singers Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers General Practitioners and Physicians Cooks Actors and Comedians Construction Trades Labourers Meat Cutters

Foreign Worker Program

Top Ten Occupations in Western Canada (MB, SK, AB, BC) for 2006:

Live in Care Givers Musicians and Singers Harvesting Labourers Cooks Food Counter Attendants/Kitchen Helpers Actors and Comedians Producers, Directors and Choreographers Truck Drivers Light Duty Cleaners Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers

Foreign Worker Program

Contact Information

Foreign Worker Program Service Canada 3338 Portage Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba R3K 0Z1

Telephone Local Winnipeg phone number 1-204-983-3683 Toll free phone number 1-866-293-9981

Fax Local Winnipeg fax number 1-204-984-4630 Toll free fax number 1-866-293-9979

Website www.servicecanada.gc.ca

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Call! 1 800 O-Canada

Click! servicecanada.gc.ca

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