CIMM – Open vs. Employer-Specific Work Permits – February 7, 2024

Key Facts And Figures

In 2023, 80% of work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) were open, while 20% were employer-specific. Of these employer-specific work permits, 84% were issued under the International Mobility Program, and 16% were issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Employers of employer-specific work permit holders are subject to an employer compliance regime, which seeks to ensure the protection of foreign workers through a suite of regulatory obligations. This aims to promote safe and fair working conditions for temporary foreign workers.
Additionally, under the TFWP employers must meet certain wage requirements, which are applied using the Labour Market Impact Assessment to avoid wage suppression for foreign workers and Canadians alike.
IRCC has implemented facilitative measures to support employer-specific work permit holders, including the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers, to enable workers to leave abusive situations. Also, the Changing Employers Public Policy permits workers to change employers and begin working with that new employer more quickly.

Employer-specific work permits remain an important feature of the temporary worker programs. Eliminating employer-specific work permits in favour of open work permits in every case would not necessarily reduce abuse and exploitation.
The employer compliance regime does not apply to employers of open work permit holders, as there is no listed employer on which to impose the requirements.
The Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers is available for employer-specific work permit holders facing abuse.