Foreign Worker Program FLMM – LMI Working Group

1. Foreign Worker Program FLMM – LMI Working Group Foreign Worker Program FLMM – LMI Working Group

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Call! Click! Visit! • Call! 1 800 O-Canada • Click! servicecanada.gc.ca • Visit! Service Canada Centre nearest you