The situation
The Canadian government updated the prevailing wage for many industries.

A closer look
On September 25, 2017, the Canadian government released updated wage information for occupations in numerous industries. Applications filed on or after September 25 must meet the updated wage requirements.  

Background
Many work permit categories require that a foreign national be paid the prevailing wage, which is the median wage as established by Employment and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada (ESDC), as a minimum requirement for eligibility for a work permit. Failure to comply with the prevailing wage may result in compliance issues for employers of foreign nationals in Canada.

Impact on pending applications
Pending work permit and Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications may also be impacted by this change; employers may receive requests to adjust the wage offered to a foreign national prior to visa issuance.

Application of prevailing wage on work permit categories



Example of updated prevailing wages for information technology occupations



Implications for employers
The prevailing wage has increased for many occupation categories. Employers should review their foreign worker population for compliance with the updated wage requirements. Fragomen can assist with this review.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to canada@fragomen.com.  

© 2017 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.