Program delivery update: Vulnerable workers

June 4, 2019

New instructions for vulnerable workers are now available, following the coming into force of section 207.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) on June 4, 2019. Under this provision, officers may issue open work permits to foreign nationals who are experiencing abuse, or who are at risk of experiencing abuse, in the context of their employment in Canada.

In addition, the instructions have been updated to reflect other regulatory changes linked to vulnerable workers that have come into force:

• The new subsection R200(3.1) states that paragraph R200(3)(e) does not apply to a foreign national referred to in subsection R207.1(1) who has engaged in unauthorized work in Canada or failed to comply with a condition of a previous permit or authorization.
• The new paragraph R299(2)(l) exempts vulnerable workers described under section R207.1 from paying the work permit processing fee.

New instructions

• Open work permits for vulnerable workers

Updated instructions

• Steps to determine work and assessment of work permit applications
• Work permit issuance prohibitions
• Open work permits
• Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption codes