International recruitment

Hiring temporary foreign workers can help when you are unable to address your company's skills shortages in the local labour market.

The requirements for hiring temporary foreign workers are established in Manitoba's Worker Recruitment and Protection Act and Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act as well as the policies and procedures of the Government of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

The steps for recruiting temporary foreign workers are provided below.

6 STEPS to recruit temporary workers

To hire under Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program you must generally:

1. Ensure no local hires
   Employers must show they cannot fill the position(s) with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before attempting to recruit a temporary foreign worker. You are required to post your vacancy on the Canada Job Bank.
   
   You may consider hiring immigrants who live in Manitoba.
   
   
2. Register with Manitoba Employment Standards Branch
   This is a requirement of Manitoba's Worker Recruitment and Protection Act, which improves protections for foreign workers. For more information on the act and the registration form please visit Employment Standards.
   
   
3. Apply to Service Canada for a labour market opinion
   Employers who receive a positive registration from the province can apply for a labour market opinion (LMO). This assesses how your job offer would affect Canadian jobs. You must include the original certificate of registration from Employment Standards with your LMO application.
   
   For a detailed explanation of the Canadian government process visit Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
   
   
4. Find suitable candidates
   You now need to find candidates who meet your requirements.
   
   If you are using the services of a Manitoba recruiter to locate international workers, the agency must be licensed by the Employment Standards Branch. Neither you nor the recruiter can charge fees to the worker.
   
   Consider taking advantage of Manitoba’s international recruitment agreements. These agreements can ease your recruitment process by assisting you in the identifying and recruiting foreign workers in a safe and ethical manner.
   
   Note: Only employers that have received a certificate of registration from the Manitoba Employment Standards Branch and a positive labour market opinion from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are eligible to recruit temporary foreign workers.
   
   
5. Have foreign worker apply for a work permit.
   If the Temporary Foreign Worker Program issues you a positive LMO, send a copy of the LMO confirmation letter to the foreign worker. The worker must send it, along with your job offer, in his or her work permit application to the visa office responsible for the country where the worker lives. For details on how to apply for a permit visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
   
   
6. When your worker arrives
   People you employ on temporary work permits have the same rights and responsibilities in the workplace as Manitobans. For resources to help your workers settle see the Immigration Division's Temporary foreign workers guide.
   
   

More information

To read the procedures of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada for the issuance of work permits and exceptions, and labour market opinion assessment criteria and exceptions go to Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

To read about employment standards and workplace safety and health legislation in Manitoba please visit Employment Standards

Guidebook for Employers: Recruiting temporary foreign workers

Manitoba Labour and Immigration has expanded these instructions in greater detail in a 28-page guide. Download the PDF.