Finding a Job in Canada

What should I know about employers?

There are more than 260,000 firms in the construction industry, with over 65,000 in residential construction and 150,000 in the trade contracting industry. Employers in the construction industry vary in size, type of work, and in their involvement with labour organizations (unions). 

Employers in Canada are bound by the rules and regulations set out in the Canada Labour Code and/or in the provincial/territorial labour standards codes. When you work in Canada, your employer must follow the same guidelines with TFWs as with Canadian workers. Some employers have agreements with labour organizations (unions), while others do not. To find out more about labour organizations in Canada, you can visit the Labour Canada website, which deals with Labour law.

It is important to know that Canada currently has no formal laws governing recruiters at the federal level. Some provinces such as Alberta and Manitoba do have legislation and regulations. Below are some links to help you decide if you want to use a particular third-party organization:

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What should I know about third-party organizations?

There are a number of different third-party organizations working to help TFWs or employers with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements. These third-party organizations generally play two kinds of roles: they provide information and advice, and they recruit and sometimes help to select qualified workers.

The organizations that mostly provide information and guidance are often called immigration consultants. Many are immigration lawyers. The organizations that mostly recruit workers are called many names, including head hunters, employment agencies, human resource planners, labour brokers or others. In some cases, third-party organizations provide both information and guidance and work to recruit and place qualified workers. The third-party organization’s role determines the types of services that they will charge you for. If you decide to hire a third-party organization to help you, be sure to check the services of more than one organization so that you can find the one that best meets your needs. Ask lots of questions – such as what services they provide, and for what fee.

It is important to know that Canada currently has no formal laws governing recruiters at the federal level. Some provinces do have legislation and regulations. Here are some points to help you decide if you want to use a particular third-party organization.

  • “Paid” recruiters acting on your behalf in applying for a work permit must be a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
  • All recruiters in Alberta must be licensed by Service Alberta if they are helping to find employees for Alberta businesses, helping workers to find work in Alberta, or testing workers on behalf of Alberta employees. For more information, Service Alberta has developed some tips on choosing an employment agency. 
  • In Manitoba, both employers and recruiters must be registered with the Government of Manitoba’s Employment Standards Division. This is a requirement for the inclusion of temporary foreign workers under the Worker Recruitment and Protection Act (WRAPA).
  • To place a worker in a Canadian company, recruiters working for Canadian employers should not charge the worker (in some provinces they cannot charge the worker).  Employers should be paying these fees. However, recruiters can charge the worker for personal fees such as preparing a résumé or acting on behalf of a client to prepare paperwork and other administrative activities. Be sure to ask for a list of fees that will be charged to you as the worker, preferably before you hire someone to work on your behalf. 
  • In order to act on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding a work permit or visa, a professional (paid) recruiter has to be a practising lawyer or a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC). You can find out more about this and get the application form from the Citizenship and Immigration website. 

Protect yourself. See the Citizenship and Immigration fraud warning for more information.

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Who pays for what? Costs associated with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The only official costs of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are the costs of applying for a visa and work permit. Both of these costs must be paid by you, the worker, because you are applying for the work permit. Fees for temporary resident visas and work permits are posted on the CIC web site. If you are coming to work in a skilled trade, you may be responsible for travel costs to and from Canada, although many employers pay these costs. You may also be responsible for health care costs until you become eligible for provincial health care coverage, and for other things like résumé preparation, a medical exam, application preparation, and skill assessment. 

If you are coming to work in a trade that requires less formal training, the employer is responsible for the costs of travel and health care until you become eligible for provincial health care coverage. They are also expected to help you find accommodation. 

All other costs are negotiated between the employer and yourself, although typically employers will help you with food and accommodation when you first arrive in Canada. For more information about costs and allowable payroll deductions, see the section on Rights and responsibilities. If you are unsure of the costs associated with coming to work as a TFW, be sure to ask potential employers or third-party organizations that you may come into contact with.

This page last updated December 2009