Islamabad, Aug 31: Plans to decrease the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers and permanent residents admitted to Canada were revealed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During the second day of a cabinet retreat aimed at determining the government’s autumn agenda, the announcement was made on Monday.
This choice was made at a time when Canada’s population is expanding quickly, putting a burden on public services like healthcare and housing, according to experts. Federal figures show that immigration accounted for 97% of Canada’s population growth in the previous year. Trudeau and his administration have come under fire for raising immigration without sufficiently growing housing or services.
Over the previous two months, Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 6.4%, impacting around 1.4 million workers nationwide. In response, Trudeau announced his intention to restructure the program known as Temporary Foreign Worker, which permits firms in Canada to appoint foreign workers to temporary positions in the event that suitable Canadians are not available.
Trudeau brought up issues with the treatment of job seekers in Canada fairly and the mistreatment of temporary foreign workers. Labor activists and the UN have also attacked the initiative, calling it in a report “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.
“The program’s usage has increased recently, particularly in sectors like construction and agriculture, in part because of the loosened regulations implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic-related labor shortage. There were around 183,820 temporary foreign worker permits issued in 2023 compared to 2019, an 88% increase.
Employers who took use of the program to avoid hiring qualified Canadian workers were chastised by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The impending modifications will prohibit the issuance of work permits in regions with a 6% or greater unemployment rate, with the exception of jobs in seasonal food, agriculture, construction, and healthcare.
