Recent government announcements don’t spell the end for foreign worker recruitment in the automotive sector. Here’s how to navigate the coming days and months.

As we discussed in our September article, Quebec and Ottawa began announcing restrictions in August on hiring temporary foreign workers in lower-wage positions (below $27.47/hour, or $57,000 annually): a six-month freeze on recruitment in Montreal, rejection of LMIA applications in metropolitan areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, a new cap of 10% temporary foreign workers per business, and maximum employment duration reduced from two years to one.

Naturally, these announcements have shaken up the automotive industry, where international recruitment is often crucial for filling persistent labour shortages. It’s understandable that many dealerships and service centres are concerned about additional decisions made in recent weeks.

Key takeaways from recent announcements

In reality, these latest announcements don’t signal the end of foreign worker recruitment in the automotive sector.

At the provincial level, the government has suspended two permanent immigration programs for eight months, including the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP). While this moratorium affects temporary foreign workers seeking permanent residency in Quebec, it doesn’t impact those with temporary status or those expected to be recruited in the coming months.

At the federal level, starting November 8, 2024, employers will need to pay a 20% increase on provincial minimum wage for any new foreign worker. In Quebec, this means an increase from $27.47/hour to $33/hour. Through this measure, the government aims to encourage employers to recruit from the Canadian labour pool. However, this decision will only affect a fraction of automotive sector workers.

Sophie Corriveau from Auto-jobs, and Karim Mouldi, CEO of Canari

Short and medium-term solutions

Automotive employers can rely on professionals like international recruitment agency Canari, an Auto-jobs partner, to clarify these announcements and find effective solutions for hiring foreign workers.

“If you’re planning to hire a foreign worker this year and want to benefit from the current minimum wage, we strongly recommend contacting us before November 8,” says Karim Mouldi, president of Canari. “We’ve developed a strategy to address this situation and help you through the coming year.”

Moving forward, both the Canari team and Auto-jobs will remain active beyond November 8 for automotive industry stakeholders, with access to the best international talent and recruitment methods.

As Sophie Corriveau, automotive recruitment consultant at Auto-jobs, points out, “We’re available to address your questions about these significant changes in international recruitment. As employers, you won’t have to manage any aspects of these changes, as everything is handled by Canari and Auto-jobs.”

So no need to panic! Quebec’s leading recruiters in the automotive sector are ready to continue serving their clients without fail.