Quebec employers can now hire more temporary foreign workers in specific sectors
Since January 10th, 2022, Quebec employers can hire up to 20% temporary foreign workers on their staff. This previously-announced measure applies to business in the following specific sectors identified by Quebec:
- Retail Trade excluding Food;
- Accommodation and Food Services;
- Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing;
- Management of Companies and Enterprises and Administrative, Support and Other Services;
- Health Care;
- Forestry and Logging;
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing;
- Plastic and Rubber Product Manufacturing;
- Wood Product Manufacturing.
The measure is the latest in a series of initiatives that the province implemented to provide more flexibility for Quebec employers hiring under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The pilot project was first announced on August 6, 2021, to increase the number of temporary foreign workers in Quebec businesses that face a critical need for employees. Moreover, it was intended to run until December 2023. However, in November 2021, the Government of Canada agreed to extend the program until December 31, 2024.
Additional measures for the pilot program
In addition to the above, the pilot project has also introduced an exemption for certain low-skilled and unskilled occupations (level D) of the NOC, in the advertising and recruitment of temporary foreign workers.
Also, an exemption from the current policy on the refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application in certain geographic regions designated by Quebec. This follows a consultation process with partners in the labour market.
Quebec plans to admit up to 52,500 immigrants in 2022
Currently, Quebec plans to admit between 49,500 to 52,500 immigrants in 2022 among all categories combined. Furthermore, according to the Quebec Immigration Plan, most of the new admissions will come through economic immigration as well as refugees.
As usual, the plan stays the course on the targets established during the public consultation held in summer 2019. This consultation was to talk about Quebec Immigration Planning for the 2020-2022 period. You can read more about this plan, here.
Related Articles
- Regulations for Quebec’s 2021-2022 immigration applications
- Bridging open work permits for some Quebec skilled workers
- The Quebec Investor Program is suspended until April 1, 2023
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