‘Time To Invest In Canadian Youth’: Trudeau Says His Govt Will Cut Down On Low-Wage, Foreign Workforce

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the federal government will be taking steps to limit the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers in Canada. Trudeau has said that the measures will be taken to ensure businesses invest in Canadian youth and said it will be applied, with the exception of some sectors – like health care, construction and food security.

“We’re reducing the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers in Canada. The labour market has changed. Now is the time for our businesses to invest in Canadian workers and youth,” Trudeau said.

“We are tightening the rules and restricting eligibility to reduce the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers in Canada, with exceptions in certain industries like health care, construction and food security,” he further added.

The new measures will come into effect starting September 26. According to GlobalNews Canada, the Trudeau government is imposing a cap of 10% on employees coming from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. The measures also propose a reduction of maximum duration of employment from two years to one, the broadcaster said citing Employment and Social Development Canada.

The move comes after the province of Quebec announced last week its own limits on low-wage temporary foreign workers. The provincial government is is implementing a six-month freeze on the intake of new temporary foreign workers for low-wage jobs in Montreal starting in September, the broadcaster said.

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program permits non-Canadians to work in Canada on a temporary basis.

“(The program was) designed to address labour market shortages when qualified Canadians were not able to fill those roles. Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadians workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy,” Trudeau’s employment minister Randy Boissonnault said in a statement.

Canada’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4% in July, following two months of consecutive increases, as per Statistics Canada’s latest jobs report.