The pandemic has brought a sudden and abrupt page in the priorities of the Canadian immigration system, prioritising those migrants employed in clearly ‘essential’ sectors such as agriculture or health and care, but leaving stranded those immigrant workers that the Government once deemed the most qualified and in-demand individuals in the labour market. Many of these individuals have sold their homes, quit their jobs, packed their bags and uprooted their families to come to Canada on work permits.
While many employers have invoked “work from home” policies, this is not a privilege that can be afforded to foreign workers. Employers, even if they wanted to, cannot have non-essential high-skilled foreign workers work remotely. Even with an employment approval letter, individuals who have yet to arrive in Canada, whose paperwork has already been processed, cannot receive their work permit unless they physically enter Canada. Without a work permit, the employer cannot process payment for work. Even if employers seek workarounds, there are severe consequences for organizations that do not respect labour laws.
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