Support and services for temporary foreign workers
Settlement workers at IRSA assist temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and their employers with various issues surrounding settlement, work permits and immigration matters.
Services for temporary foreign workers
- Registration with IRSA and initial needs assessment
- Assistance with application for a PEI health card
- Referral to, or advice on, tax benefit programs and other Canada Revenue Agency matters
- Referral to the IRSA programs such as employment assistance, youth settlement services, and community engagement activities
- Help with translation services for driver's licenses and other documents, and interpretation services where necessary
- Advice on the process of obtaining a new work permit or extensions via information and instruction form the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website
- Information on online practice materials for English language, referral for language tutors through the Association's English-as-an-Additional-Language Tutor Program, and information on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Information on temporary foreign workers' and general employment-related rights and laws, and other services as needed
Services for employers
Settlement workers meet with employers and workers individually or in group settings to answer questions and relay applicable workplace information. IRSA will arrange interpreters for employers as needed to ensure temporary foreign workers with language barriers are fully aware of health and safety regulations and workplace duties. Settlement workers will provide an overview of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process and direct employers to the IRCC and Service Canada websites for more detailed information and specific application steps.
Cooper Institute: Migrant Workers Project
Cooper Institute, a PEI public education and community development centre, is working on building knowledge about the issues surrounding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in PEI. The Institute has developed several guides for migrant workers living and working in PEI. In addition to English, some guides are also available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese. To find those guides, and learn more about the Institute's research, findings, and public education workshops and forums, visit the Cooper Institute website.
