Employers In The Canadian Tech Industry Can Fast-Track Hiring highly Skilled Foreign Talent Through The Global Talent Stream
Canada currently has north of one million job vacancies across the country. These job vacancies are spread throughout nearly every employment sector, which is why Canada has created several programs to aid employers with hiring foreign talent.
One such programs, specific to highly skilled foreign professionals in the tech industry, is the Global Talent Stream(GTS).
The GTS is a fast tracked program employers cause to bring foreign talent to this country and allow them utilize their skills in the service of helping innovative Canadian Companies grow.
Part of Canada’s larger Global Talent Strategy and contained within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program(TFWP), the GTS expedites the processing of work permit applications and temporary resident visas(if applicable) so that qualified applicants can start working in around two weeks from the date of submission.
Accordingly, this program also works to benefit the general Canadian tech landscape, as it ensures the organizations in the space can quickly access the talent they need to continue thrive.
Exemptions
Two exemptions under the Global Talent Stream enable certain applicants to enter Canada without a work permit.
First, “highly-skilled workers in still type 0 or skill level A occupations of the NOC” will not require a permit under this program if they are working in Canada for a period of 15 days over six months or 30 days over 12 months.
Additionally, researchers coming to Canada will not need a work permit should they be working Canada for a period of 120 days over 12 months “on research projects at a publicly funded degree granting institution or affiliated research institution”
Breaking down the Global Talent Stream
Under the Global Talent Stream, there are two distinct categories:
l High growth companies who are referred to GTS by one of over 40 designated referral partners (in Canada, excluding Quebec) and can demonstrate the need to the hire “unique specialized talent from abroad”.
The list of designated referral partners varies for employers in Quebec, and therefore, also for applicants looking to work in that province. That list can be found in French on the website of Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration.
l Companies looking to hire specific roles designated by the Global Talent Occupations List. This list, which may be updated periodically to reflect changing labour market needs and priorities, includes an expansive list of jobs that have been deemed in demand and appear to suffer from a lacking number of available workers domestically. Some of the Global Talent Occupations:
Computer and information systems managers
Web designers and developers
Computer network technicians
Workers in digital media and design
Wages in the Global Talent Stream
One of the most important elements of this program is the wages that employers pay to successful applicants.
There is a wage-related requirement that employers in either category must meet when bringing on foreign talent through the GTS. This requirement states that employers must pay workers at whichever of the following five rates is highest.
l The occupation’s median wage on the Canadian government’s Job Bank.
l The wage within the range that the employer pays to current employees(in the same position, at the same location, and with the same skills/experience.
l The minimum wage floor determined by the Global Talent Occupations list(Category B)
l An hourly salary that matches the prevailing wage for the occupation in question and amounts to no less than $80,000(for the first two positions requested under Category A)
How the Global Talent Stream benefits Canada & Canadians
The GTS benefits both Canadians and the country at large by requiring employers to develop a Labour Market Benefit Plan. This plan, established in conjunction with Employment and Social Development Canada(ESDC), identifies how the hiring of foreign talent through this program will work to benefit both Canadians and the country at large by requiring employers to develop a Labour Markets Benefit Plan. This plan. Established in conjunction with Employment and Social Development Canada(ESDC), identifies how the hiring of foreign talent through this program will work to benefit the Canadian labour market.
Additionally, these plans outline activities the employer will facilitate to encourage job creation or invest in skill development and training for Canadians(the “primary benefits” of the GTS).
More specifically, it is the responsibility of employers in category A to encourage job creation, either directly or indirectly, for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Meanwhile Category B employers are accountable for increasing investments in skills and training for Canadians.
Employers in both categories, in addition to the above will need to undertake business activities for the purpose of fulfilling and additional two complimentary labour market benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
l Transferring knowledge to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
l Improving company performance.
The full list of activities that can be used to fulfill any labour market benefit can be reviewed on the Government of Canada’s website. For reference, however some of those activities include:
l Hiring more Canadian citizens or permanent residents
l Training current employees in new techniques
l Creating paid co-op or internship programs for local students
l Increasing revenue and investments
Finally, its worth clarifying that employers applying to hire talent in both categories will be required to commit to one activity related to each primary benefit- job creation and skill development/training as well as two complimentary benefits.
For more information please feel free to contact me on :
An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug, Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09 Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W - www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in |
