Temporary Foreign Workers: What Employers and Recruiters Cannot Do

The Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act outlines what recruiters and employers can and cannot do when recruiting and hiring temporary foreign workers to work in Canada. The BC Employment Standards Branch is responsible for ensuring your rights under the Act are followed. They have a free hotline with translation services available at: 1-833-236-3700.

Here are some things employers and recruiters cannot do:

1. Lie or misrepresent a job opportunity. Recruiters and employers cannot misrepresent what the position involves, the length of your employment, or the wages and benefits you will receive.
2. Charge fees for employment. Recruiters and employers cannot charge you direct or indirect fees for your employment. If a recruiter is charging an employer a fee for referring an foreign worker to them, the recruiter must disclose this to the employee. Employers cannot pass this fee along to an employee (for example, by withholding their wages or paying them less).
3. Withhold your passport. It is illegal for recruiters or employers to keep your passport or other important documents from you.
4. Threaten deportation. It is illegal for recruiters or employers to threaten to deport you for filing a complaint if your rights are being violated. It is also illegal for an employer to intimidate you, refuse to hire you, or fire you for making a complaint with the government.