Many people are under the impression that Canadian employers benefit from immigrant labour because of the idea that immigrants are not obligated to be paid the same wage as Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, Canadian employers are required by law to pay documented immigrants and international workers the same wage as citizens or permanent residents. The two main ways international workers come to Canada are through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). Here’s a breakdown of how these immigration programs ensure that international workers are paid the same wage as Canadian citizens.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

The LMIA is an evaluation by the Canadian government that makes sure recruiting foreign workers is in the best interests of the Canadian workforce by closely examining factors such as the availability of Canadian workers and the economic need for international talent. In most cases, for Canadian employers to apply for an LMIA to hire a foreign worker, they have to advertise the job vacancy on the Job Bank of Canada and other job boards. This ensures that anyone who applies for the job (Canadian citizen or international worker) must be paid the exact amount that is advertised. Furthermore, the Employment Standards Act, 2000, regarding the rights of international workers states; “Generally, you must be paid at least the minimum wage.”

International Mobility Program

This program allows Canadian employers to hire international workers without having to go through the process of applying for an LMIA. This only applies to workers from countries that are part of trade treaties such as CUSMA or CETA, individuals entering Canada on an open work permit, or persons entering Canada as intra-company transferees. To hire foreign workers through this program, employers still need to be vetted, and they must submit an ‘offer of employment’ for review by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). According to the Government of Canada, “the offer of employment cannot demonstrate “pay and working conditions [that are] less favorable (only equal or more favorable).”