CANADA | Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program may have lasting consequences on the local hospitality sector.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which aims to significantly cut the number of staff in the local industry, will have severe consequences for rural, remote and tourist regions of our country according to Restaurants Canada.
“We are deeply disappointed that our industry was not consulted in the lead-up to this decision,” the group said in a statement.
As a CAD $115 billion industry and one of Canada’s largest private-sector employers, its voice has been crucial in such decisions. While Temporary Foreign Workers make up only three percent of the workforce, these workers have been vital in keeping many restaurants operational during challenging times.
“We support changes to the program that strengthen compliance and protections for workers and ensure the program is being used in the manner it was intended – as a last resort for employers struggling to fill vacancies. However, the changes announced today will cause more harm than good in those communities that have few other options to address labour shortages.”
Capping the use of Temporary Foreign Workers at 10 percent industry-wide and reducing the maximum employment limit from two years to one was a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t effectively support the diverse labour needs across Canadian communities a spokesperson said. As such, the group has urged the government to adopt a more flexible approach to these measures, considering geographic and socio-economic circumstances.
“We are encouraged by the government’s commitment to collaborating with businesses and organisations to meet labour needs while supporting Canadian workers through enhanced training and education opportunities.”
For over a year, Restaurants Canada has advocated for a matching and training program to connect job vacancies in industries like foodservice (which currently has over 73,000 open positions) with the approximately one million unemployed newcomers holding open work permits in Canada. This proposal would benefit both businesses and newcomers seeking permanent employment opportunities.
“We call on the government to engage with Restaurants Canada to better address the needs of the communities we serve across the country. We can play a key role in aligning the government’s goals while minimising negative impacts on the communities we serve,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada.
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