Canada to Allow Family Members of Temporary Foreign Workers to Work
Canada is extending work permit eligibility to family members of temporary foreign workers to address labor shortages. Previously, only spouses of primary applicants in high-skilled occupations were eligible for work permits. Starting in January 2023, Canada will broaden eligibility to include spouses and working-age children of workers in all skill levels through a two-year phased approach.
The temporary measure aims to keep families together, improve workers’ well-being and provide more opportunities for foreign workers and employers. It is estimated that family members of over 200,000 foreign workers could start working in Canada as a result.
The measure will be implemented in three stages, beginning with family members of workers in the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Following consultations, the measure will be extended to family members of workers from the low-wage stream, and there will be a third phase for agricultural workers’ families.
Overall, this new policy is expected to benefit Canadian businesses, temporary foreign workers, and their families.
