Hire through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot: How to support newcomer employees
Refugees who immigrate to Canada through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) will have access to the settlement services available to all new permanent residents to Canada.
As newcomers to Canada, they’ll have many needs and a lot to do, especially when they first arrive. While they’ll arrive in Canada as economic immigrants, some of their needs may be tied to their refugee background, including
- having little or no support network in Canada
- being at greater risk for health issues (including mental health)
- having less or no savings to support themselves and their families
Different economic programs will have different expectations for employers
Depending on the economic program they applied to, there will be different expectations about
- the support newcomer employees may need, and
- what type of help you’re required or expected to provide when they arrive
Examples of how programs may have different expectations of you, as an employer, include:
- under the Provincial Nominee Program, some provinces or territories could require that you arrange temporary housing for newcomer employees
- under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, some communities may require that you support newcomer employees (and their families) as they settle and integrate into the community
- under the Atlantic Immigration Program, you’re required, as a designated employer, to work with a settlement service provider to help newcomer employees get settlement services
Settlement services available to newcomer employees
Settlement services help all newcomers to Canada settle and adjust to their new lives. Before they arrive in Canada, they’ll be connected with a local settlement services provider. Settlement services providers can
- help them learn or improve their English and French
- give them information about life in Canada
- connect them with their new communities
- help their family members write resumes and look for jobs
How you can support newcomer employees as they settle in Canada
Through the EMPP, skilled refugees will come to Canada as economic immigrants. Because of this, they won’t have access to the services available to privately sponsored refugees and government-assisted refugees. However, they may need extra support to settle in their new community because of their refugee background. We suggest your organization play a key role in meeting their initial needs by:
- helping with transportation
- picking them up from the airport when they arrive, and
- within the community where they work
- finding temporary housing for them, and eventually helping them find more permanent housing
- providing items to meet their immediate needs when they arrive (like winter clothes and boots)
- making sure they know about key supports available in your community, such as
- education
- transportation
- health practitioners (including dentists and mental health specialists)
- childcare
- interpreters
- financial services
- being flexible about their work schedule so they can take care of their settlement needs
You should support newcomer employees as much as possible while they settle and integrate into their new communities.
Other ways you can support newcomer employees at work
Read our employer roadmap for more information about how to:
- offer training and mentoring to help the candidate develop in their career
- create a welcoming work environment, and
- help your candidate integrate at work