LMIA (Labour Impact Assessment) – is a document that assesses how the situation of hiring foreign workers affects the situation of domestic workers. This means that foreign workers coming to Canada to work in a certain position, a certain job have a positive or neutral impact on the labor market in Canada.
● LMIA is assessed as positive if there is a shortage of human resources in that position, and Canadian labor is not enough to be able to fill that position.
● An LMIA is considered neutral if in that position or job the use of foreign labor does not affect the labor situation in Canada.
Most foreign workers coming to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are required to have an LMIA.
The LMIA process involves several steps, including:
● Job Offer: The employer must issue a job offer to the foreign worker and submit an LMIA application for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
● Labor market assessment: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will assess the job offers, qualifications of foreign workers and the Canadian labor market to determine if there is a genuine labor shortage. and whether hiring foreign workers will have a positive or negative impact on the Canadian labor market.
● LMIA Decision: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will make the LMIA decision, approving or denying the application.
● Apply for a Work Permit: If the LMIA is approved, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The LMIA process can take weeks or months to complete and it is important for both employers and foreign workers to ensure that the LMIA application is complete and accurate.
In summary, the LMIA is an important step in the process of recruiting foreign workers in Canada and plays an important role in protecting the Canadian labor market.
