Canada has long been known as a country that is welcoming to immigrants, including temporary foreign workers. In fact, there are many rules designed to make sure temporary foreign workers have a positive experience in Canada. As a temporary foreign worker in Canada, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities. Knowing what you are entitled to and what is expected of you will help make your time in Canada a success!


Please note: Immigration regulations are subject to change, and we cannot guarantee that this information is up-to-date. For up-to-date information, please visit the Government of Canada's website or speak with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.

 

Rights of Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada


Temporary foreign workers are covered by Canadian law, which safeguards the rights of all workers. You have the same protections as Canadians and permanent residents, regardless of your immigration status.

 

As a temporary foreign worker in Canada, you have the right to:

 

Be paid


Your employer must pay you for your work as stated in your employment agreement. This includes overtime work if it is included as part of your agreement. They must comply with provincial and federal laws regarding hours of work and overtime pay.

 

A Safe and Healthy Workplace


Your employer can not give you tasks that are not safe. Your employer is not allowed to fire you or stop paying you for saying no to an unsafe job. You are allowed to refuse the work until you and the employer agree that there is no more safety problem.

Your employer needs to follow safety laws. They must pay for the training and safety equipment you need to be safe. This is very important, especially if you work with chemicals.


For more information on reporting unsafe work, click here.

 

Not be discriminated against and a workplace free of abuse


You deserve to be treated fairly and with respect at work, no matter what your race, gender, religion, or any other factor. Employers should make sure your workplace is safe and free from any kind of harm, including physical, sexual, mental, or financial harm. Your employer or anyone who works for them should never hurt or punish you for telling them about something that's wrong. If you ever feel afraid, controlled, or alone because of something happening at work, it might be considered abuse.


For more information on harassment and violence, click here.

 

Be informed of your employment conditions


Employers are required to provide you with a written employment contract that outlines the terms and conditions of your employment on or before the first day of work. It must be in English or French (your chosen official language while in Canada). Both you and your employer must sign this agreement.

 

Rest periods and breaks


Taking breaks and resting during work is important to have a healthy and effective workplace. It is the employer's job to give enough breaks and rest time as the law requires. These breaks and rest periods serve to ensure that employees are not overworked and can maintain their physical and mental well-being, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.


For more information about rest periods and breaks, click here.

 

If you lose your job


Employers must provide reasonable notice before laying off employees. If they fail to do so, they must pay termination pay based on the length of employment and location. Those who lose their job through no fault of their own or due to abuse may qualify for Employment Insurance benefits.


For information about Employment Insurance visit the EI regular benefits page.

 

Access to healthcare


You have the right to access healthcare services in Canada, including medical treatment and emergency services. In the majority of cases, you are not required to pay for medical appointments or hospital treatment in Canada.


For more information on Canada’s healthcare, click here.

 

Changing Employers


You can change jobs, but your work permit may only let you work for your current employer. If you want to work for a new employer, you may need to apply for a new work permit, and your new employer would need to apply for a new Labour Market Impact Assessment from the Canadian government. This could mean going through the approval process again.


For more information on changing jobs or employers, click here.

 

Housing Rights


Workers in the Low-Wage and Primary Agriculture streams: If your job is in the Low-Wage LMIA category or in agriculture, your employer should give you a good and affordable place to live. Your employer can require you to pay rent, electricity, and water, but rules typically make this much cheaper than normal rent in Canada.


Workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: If you're employed through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, your employer must provide you with appropriate housing without charge (except in British Columbia, where they can deduct housing costs from your pay). Your employment agreement should detail all allowable deductions, which vary depending on the province. For individuals from the Caribbean or  Mexico, housing and utility expenses should be included in their contracts.


For more information on housing rights, click here.

 

Responsibilities as a Temporary Foreign Worker in Canada


As a temporary foreign worker in Canada, you also have certain responsibilities. These include:


  • Complying with Canadian laws: You must comply with all Canadian laws, including those related to employment, immigration, and taxation.
  • Reporting to work on time: You are expected to report to work on time and be reliable.
  • Following workplace policies and procedures: You must follow the policies and procedures established by your employer, including those related to safety, attendance, and performance.
  • Respecting Canadian culture and values: You are expected to respect Canadian culture and values, including the rights of others and the laws of the land.
  • Paying taxes: You are required to pay taxes on your income earned in Canada.
  • Leaving Canada at the end of your work permit: You are required to leave Canada when your work permit expires, unless you apply for an extension or apply for permanent residence.
  • If you have a work permit that’s about to expire or that you need to change, you must apply to extend it or change the conditions on it.


You should apply to extend your work permit at least 30 days before your current permit expires.

If your work permit expires while your application is being processed, find out if you can keep working or consult with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.

 

As a temporary foreign worker in Canada, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities. By knowing what is expected of you and what you are entitled to, you can ensure that your experience in Canada is a positive one. If you have any concerns or questions about your rights or responsibilities, there are resources available to help you, including government agencies, community organizations, and legal services. Ready to ensure your experience as a temporary foreign worker in Canada is a positive one? Contact us now to speak with an experienced immigration consultant who can help you navigate your rights and responsibilities.


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July 2025 Canadian Immigration Update: New Wage Rates, New Opportunities

By Dirk Propp • July 9, 2025
First up, some exciting news from our own backyard.It’s official: we’ve legally changed our name from OFAS (Online Form Automation Systems Inc.) operating as Immigrate to FillaRole Technologies Inc. Why the change? Because our new name finally says what we’ve been doing all along, helping businesses fill roles with skilled people. In addition to that, we’ve also launched Fill a Role Enterprise . Businesses, schools, and government agencies can now build their own, white-labelled, fully-loaded Fill a Role platform . If you're the kind of team that prefers to manage hiring and immigration in-house, we’ve built the Canada’s #1 AI hiring platform to help you do just that, smarter, faster and more effectively. Fully branded, fully yours. As for the immigration changes, there’s been a lot. New High Wage rates were announced on June 27th and it has increased the amount that businesses need to pay to keep their workers in refuse to process regions. Nunavut stays the same, Alberta only increased by 60 cents. BC is now the highest outside of Nunavut and the Yukon at 36.60. Ontario had the biggest jump from 34.07 to 36 per hour. Funny thing, if your business advertises a high wage position and the medium rate is much less, be ready for a call from Job Bank as they are cracking down on ads to poach local workers with high wages that can lead to high wage LMIAs. Best of luck justifying it and keeping your ads running. But if you need help, we have figured it out. Job Bank now has resumes that you can download when you post jobs. Don’t forget to download all the resumes or risk getting your ad pulled down if you do not download them. The fun part is that you can not tell which you have already downloaded so be ready for duplicates. LMA processing times have decreased on the website but have they really? The permanent resident stream is still roughly 1 year to get a decision, even though the website says 235 business days. Low wage and high wage applications are taking 50 business days which is a decrease from 61 days last month. Agriculture and Tech continue to be lightning fast, at under 3 weeks to get a decision. Francophone leads the way! Canada’s commitment to Bilingual Canada is the best path to getting workers and has a high chance of approval of work permits. This program allows businesses to get any skilled worker that has a CLB 5 in French language with only a job offer and a EFC payment receipt . If you are a worker in Canada and you want to stay but your options are limited, this is your ticket, learn French and win. Express Entry - Draws are happening again for Canadian Experience Class, 3 draws in May and June for 6500 Invitations with 521 being the low score. PNP has had 4 draws in the same time frame with a total of 1416 Invitations for all provinces with a huge draw of 125 on June 10th. To all the students out there, if you’re looking to find your way to Canada, are you open to change course? A new list of fields you can study in were added, where others were removed. Here is the full list of fields of study . If you need further help, please reach out to the team at Fill a Role .
An advertisement for canada 's francophone mobility work permit

Can’t Find Local Talent? Canada’s Francophone Mobility Work Permit Can Fill Your Role Beyond Immigration

June 18, 2025
Canada’s labour market is under immense pressure, with talent shortages affecting nearly every sector. Employers across the country, from Quebec to British Columbia, are struggling to find local candidates who meet the needs of skilled roles outlined in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) . As recruitment timelines drag and key roles go unfilled, Fill a Role steps in with cutting-edge talent-matching tools and strategies that ensure organizations don’t just hire faster—they hire smarter.One often-overlooked but highly effective solution to this crisis is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit . Designed to facilitate the hiring of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec, this immigration program supports employers looking to recruit skilled talent without going through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). 🙌 What Is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit? The Francophone Mobility Program is part of Canada’s International Mobility Program , offering an LMIA exemption under exemption code C16 . It allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers who have French language proficiency , even if the job doesn't require French. This open work permit offers flexible employment options for eligible foreign nationals and provides a faster, smoother work permit application process for both the employer and employee. It’s especially advantageous for employers outside Quebec, helping them tap into international Francophone communities with strong skills and a desire to contribute to Canada’s economic growth. 💼 Why It Matters for Employers For organizations using platforms like Fill a Role to streamline hiring and fill urgent roles, the Francophone Mobility Work Permit offers an additional advantage. By leveraging this pathway, Canadian employers can bypass the often-lengthy LMIA process, reduce processing times , and still maintain compliance through the Employer Portal . Employers simply submit an offer of employment , pay the employer compliance fee , and ensure the candidate meets eligibility requirements , including demonstrating French language ability via TCF, TEF , or other approved tests aligning with NCLC (Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens) scores. 🔍 Eligibility Requirements and Application Process To qualify for the Francophone Mobility Program: The job offer must be for a skilled worker position (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the NOC). The foreign national must plan to work in a province or territory outside Quebec . The applicant must demonstrate French language proficiency (CLB/NCLC level 7 or higher). The role must support the worker's path to permanent residence under federal or PNP immigration programs . Once eligibility is confirmed, the work permit application can be submitted online through IRCC’s portal. The processing fee and application fee are paid, and if approved, the worker can start employment relatively quickly compared to traditional LMIA-based pathways. ✈️ A Gateway to Permanent Residency The Francophone Mobility Work Permit is more than just a quick fix for staffing shortages. It’s a stepping stone to permanent residence . Workers employed under this program often become eligible to apply for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) , or other pathways that recognize their work experience and language abilities. This is particularly beneficial for employers using Fill a Role to build a long-term talent strategy. By recruiting French speakers under Mobilité Francophone, you’re investing in team members who are more likely to stay, integrate, and grow with your organization. 🎓 Family and Partner Inclusion Another bonus? The Francophone Mobility Program allows applicants to include dependent children and a common-law partner or spouse in their application. Spouses may be eligible for an open work permit , while children can receive study permits to access Canadian education. This family-friendly aspect enhances job satisfactio n and strengthens worker retention. 🤖 How Fill a Role Helps You Recruit Francophone Talent Navigating Canada immigration rules can be complex. That’s why Fill a Role offers tools and resources tailored to help Canadian employers identify candidates who meet both skill-level and language test criteria. With access to a growing international database, Fill a Role filters applicants based on language skills , work experience , and NOC code compatibility. Additionally, the platform connects you with certified Canadian immigration consultants (CRC) who can advise on work permit processing, application process support, and post-hire integration strategies. 🏢 Going Beyond Quebec: Serving Francophone Communities Nationwide Contrary to popular belief, Francophone talent isn’t limited to Quebec. Canada has vibrant Francophone communities in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Alberta. Mobilité Francophone is designed to spread French language influence across the nation. Whether your company is based in tech-friendly Toronto or in a rural town with limited access to skilled labor, this program offers an underutilized solution. With Fill a Role , you can reach this diverse talent pool and match with candidates who are both qualified and ready to relocate. ⚡ The Fill a Role Advantage: From Search to Success Here’s how Fill a Role enhances your hiring journey: Real-time matching with pre-vetted Francophone candidates Smart filtering based on NOC, CLB/NCLC scores, and TEER Employer compliance tracking for IRCC guidelines Access to immigration support via certified partners End-to-end support for job offer documentation and work permit application steps From sourcing to onboarding, Fill a Role simplifies the process—so you can focus on growing your team, not navigating bureaucracy. 🔹 Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for Talent to Come to You Canada’s skilled workers shortage isn’t going away anytime soon. But thanks to innovative immigration programs like the Francophone Mobility Work Permit and platforms like Fill a Role , employers have access to high-potential international talent who are ready to contribute, integrate, and thrive. So if you can’t find local talent, don’t wait. Go global. Think Francophone. And let FillaRole help you fill your role—faster, smarter, and beyond borders. 👤 About the Author Natasha Antionette Cooke is a global Talent Acquisition Leader with a passion for helping businesses solve hiring challenges through strategic innovation and human-centred design. With a background in international recruitment and digital transformation, Natasha empowers employers to navigate complex talent markets using tools like Fill a Role and sustainable immigration strategies. Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn