COW – Worker Compliance and Protection – May 28, 2026
- While in Canada, temporary foreign workers have the same employment standards, rights, and protections as Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Temporary foreign workers have the right to leave their employer and are not subject to removal if employment is terminated. Workers can use the Changing Employers Public Policy.
- We strictly monitor employer’s adherence to program requirements and conditions through inspections which can be random, or risk based.
- We have taken concrete steps to strengthen our programs to better protect workers and to hold employers accountable. We have:
- introduced the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers
- implemented stricter requirements for employers to give workers information about their rights and make reasonable efforts to provide healthcare service access
- prohibited recruitments fees
- created a tip line and online reporting tool
- funded over 100 community organizations across the country