Canada's Recognized Employer Pilot Program Phase 2 Initiated

Recently, Canada initiated the Recognized Employer Pilot Program (REP) Phase 2. In this phase, more Canadian employers are now able to apply for the program.

Read on to determine the program details, including eligibility criteria and eligible occupations.

Canada Initiated Recognized Employer Pilot Program Phase 2

In Canada, the REP program aims to assist in faster processing for employers in Canada that have demonstrated compliance with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Eligible employers under this program will gain advantages from the Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) with longer validity durations, as well as simplified LMIA applications following the initial assessment.

Employers in Canada may qualify to participate in the REP program if they have been granted a minimum of three positive LMIAs in the last five years and are recruiting Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) for roles on the occupation list. The list includes the occupations that are defined as “in-shortage” as per the Canadian Occupations Projection System (COPS) data.

Understanding TFWP and LMIA in terms of Recognized Employer Pilot Program

TFWP, or Temporary Foreign Worker Program of Canada, allows Canadian employers to recruit workers from foreign countries to fill urgent needs in the labor market.

LMIA, or Labour Market Impact Assessment, is a document that permits Canadian employers to hire in-demand workers from overseas. It is generally submitted to ESDC or Employment and Social Development Canada, which verifies that no PR or Canadian is able to fit the job role.

Typically, an LMIA work permit application has a validity period of 18 months. However, employers who qualify for the REP program will get LMIA with a maximum validity of 3 years or 36 months.

In addition, employers will also benefit from simpler LMIA applications in the coming years.

According to the ESDC, eligible employers for REP may also expect the following:

A streamlined application processing for the prospective LMIA applications for job roles mentioned on the COPS list;
Participating employers will have fewer interactions with ESDC during the pilot due to streamlined LMIA forms. This allows employers to recruit additional temporary foreign workers for authentic job positions during the REP; and
A Job Bank title that demonstrates their recognized status to enhance interest from prospective workers in Canada.

Employers may also undergo a more comprehensive screening than the initial screening to make sure that only reputable employers are chosen for the program.

According to the ESDC, employers are able to submit applications for the REP after submitting an LMIA. Further, no additional information is needed.

Employers who are not eligible for the REP will still receive a decision on their LMIA.

Recognized Employer Pilot Program Phase 2 Includes More Eligible Occupations.

Canada launched phase one of the Recognized Employer Pilot Program in September 2023. Primarily, it was for employers recruiting in the agricultural field. It has the following four occupations:

Harvesting labourers
Livestock labourers
Nursery and greenhouse labourers
Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators

The Recognized Employer Pilot Program Phase 2 comes with remarkable expansion and includes over 80 in-demand professions from a variety of fields that are eligible under the REP.

As per the ESDC, occupations that are considered eligible for work permits under the Global Talent Stream are not present on the list. This is because those occupations already qualify for expedited processing.

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program or TFWP

Employers in Canada who intend to recruit workers under the TFWP are required to submit an LMIA to the ESDC department. The ESDC then examines the employer’s application and determines whether the hiring of overseas workers will positively, negatively, or neutrally influence the Canadian labor market and economy.

When ESDC finds that the impact will be positive or neutral, they authorize the employers to hire foreign employees.

Note that employees hired under the TFWP are provided with closed work permits. This implies that they aren’t permitted to work under another employer in Canada.

There are several conditions that ESDC uses to check employer compliance. The following are some instances that ESDC checks: