Workers coming to Canada from the Philippines to get their work permits faster

Skilled workers from the Philippines who have been recruited by Canadian companies in critical occupations such as healthcare, construction, and agri-food will benefit from streamlined work permit processing and group appointments for medicals and biometrics so that they can receive their work permits faster, enabling them to begin work in Canada sooner.

The measures are part of CAN Work Philippines, a new pilot program aimed at recruiting temporary foreign workers to address labour shortages in key economic sectors. The pilot program is also applicable to Canadian employers who are recruiting from the Philippines and are hiring approximately 50 or more workers, said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a statement.

Launched by Marc Miller, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship at the IRCC visa office in Manila – the capital of the Philippines – the announcement of the new pilot program coincides with the first-ever Philippines Canada Friendship Week.

“Every year, thousands of temporary foreign workers from around the world bring their skills to Canada, helping to grow our economy and fill labour market shortages. This includes a substantial number of newcomers from the Philippines,” said Miller. “The CAN Work Philippines pilot will give Canada an important advantage in the global race for talent and support our industries in addressing labour market shortages.”

IRCC added: “Canada takes its responsibilities to protect temporary foreign workers very seriously. To participate in the program, employers must demonstrate their commitment to fair and ethical recruitment guidelines, as published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).”

As part of the pilot program, IRCC is providing $200,000 to the IOM to support the adoption of fair and ethical recruitment standards in the Philippines. The funding will help the IOM work closely with the Government of the Philippines, conduct training sessions and promote the IOM’s Fair and Ethical Recruitment Due Diligence Toolkit to organizations that are either involved or have an interest in recruiting talent in the country.

“IOM is inspired to see two countries working together to continue mainstreaming fair and ethical recruitment standards,” said Tristan Burnett, IOM’s Chief of Mission in the Philippines. “This is important for the safeguarding of the welfare and the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers, a key component of both the Philippines’ National Action Plan and the Global Compact for Migration.”

Also read: Canada announces slower visa processing times for TR and PR applicants from India

The Philippines is an important partner for Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy and a major source of newcomers to Canada. These efforts will further strengthen the close social ties between the two nations while addressing critical labour shortages in the Canadian economy and further cementing Canada as a top destination for global talent.

“Through cooperation and a mutual understanding of our responsibilities, we can pave the way for a brighter future for our migrant workers, strengthening the foundations of trust and collaboration between the Philippines and Canada,” said Patricia M. Caunan Undersecretary of the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines.

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