09 January, 2023

Spouses and working-age children of temporary workers will be allowed to work in Canada

The Government officially announced that effective January 30, 2023, the eligibility to work in Canada for spouses and working-age children of most workers in Canada in all TEERs (NOCs) would be expanded.

Who will be eligible:

1 - spouses and children of a worker who has a job in any TEER (0 to 5) or is the lead applicant and has an open work permit (example: PGWP)

2 - is the spouse or child of an economic class permanent residence applicant who has a work permit.

Who is NOT eligible:

1 - spouses and children of workers with TEER 4 or 5 jobs under the low-wage stream of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and Agricultural Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

What is the definition of a temporary worker in Canada?

In Canada, a temporary worker is an individual who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, but who has been granted permission to work in the country on a temporary basis. This permission is typically granted through a work permit, which specifies the duration of the worker's stay, the employer they will be working for, and the type of work they will be performing.

Temporary workers may be employed in a wide range of industries, including agriculture, hospitality, construction, healthcare, and technology. They may be hired to fill short-term positions, to meet seasonal demand, or to provide specialized skills or expertise that are in short supply in the Canadian labour market.

While temporary workers are not entitled to the same benefits and protections as permanent residents or citizens, they are still subject to Canadian labour laws and regulations. Employers must provide temporary workers with the same minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational health and safety standards as they would for Canadian employees.