Canada has implemented new restrictions under its Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), sparking concern among migrant workers, including a significant number of Nigerians, who may now face increased chances of deportation due to tighter employment conditions.
The updated regulations, which came into force between September and November 2024, require employers to offer high-skilled foreign workers wages that are at least 20 percent above the regional median. Additionally, companies are now limited to filling no more than 10 percent of low-wage positions with foreign hires.
Authorities say the changes are aimed at safeguarding employment opportunities for Canadian citizens. However, the move has drawn criticism for its potential impact on thousands of temporary foreign workers.
Approximately 34,000 jobs have also been reclassified from the high-wage to the low-wage category, placing more foreign workers under stricter scrutiny and reducing their access to benefits and job security.
Employers in industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality say the new policies have made it more difficult and costly to retain foreign staff, forcing many to cut back on international recruitment or decline to renew existing contracts.
For many temporary workers, the changes could mean expired permits without the opportunity for renewal, and difficulty in finding new job offers that meet the updated requirements — outcomes that could ultimately lead to removal from the country.
Critics argue that these reforms could damage Canada’s appeal as a destination for skilled international labor, while also disrupting industries that depend heavily on migrant workers.
Advocacy groups and business leaders are calling for a more balanced policy that protects local jobs while acknowledging the essential contributions of foreign workers to the national economy.
