Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
In early August 2023, the government of Canada announced the Recognized Employer Pilot
(REP) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The Recognized Employer Pilot
(REP) will help to reduce the administrative burden and simplify the hiring process for repeat
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) employers who demonstrate a history of complying
with program requirements.
The biggest issue we continued to hear regarding the TFWP is the amount of time it takes to
process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) each year. An LMIA confirms that there is a
need for a temporary foreign worker, that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to
do the job, ensures that the employer’s job offer is legitimate and that the employer has
complied with Program requirements to protect workers.
The new pilot will help to alleviate the administrative workload for some and simplify the repeat
hiring process of Temporary Foreign Workers for employers who demonstrate a history of
complying with the program requirements. Recognized Employers will have access to LMIA
validity for up to 36 months, and potentially simplified LMIA applications to hire additional
workers in the future.