TORONTO, Canada — Recent changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are sparking anxiety among thousands of migrant workers, including many Nigerians, as tighter eligibility requirements and hiring restrictions put jobs — and immigration status — at risk.
The reforms, which began rolling out between September and November 2024, require employers hiring high-skilled foreign workers to pay at least 20% above the regional median wage.
Simultaneously, companies are now restricted to filling only 10% of low-wage roles with foreign nationals, down from previous thresholds as high as 30% in some sectors.
The federal government says the changes are aimed at prioritising Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the job market, especially amid growing economic pressures and rising domestic unemployment in several provinces.
But critics warn that the measures have created a precarious situation for the estimated 34,000 foreign workers whose positions have been reclassified from high-wage to low-wage streams — categories that carry stricter rules, reduced employment protections, and diminished access to long-term immigration pathways.
“For many workers, including those from Nigeria, this means contracts won’t be renewed, and they’re suddenly scrambling to find another qualifying job offer before their permit expires,” said Adetola Bamidele, a migration advocate based in Calgary.
“Without that, deportation becomes a real and immediate threat.”
In key industries such as hospitality, agriculture, and construction, employers say they are being forced to scale back foreign hiring or avoid renewing existing contracts due to the rising cost of compliance.
“We’re already struggling to fill roles,” said one construction company manager in Ontario who requested anonymity.
“Now we’re being told to pay 20% more or limit the number of foreign hires. That’s simply not sustainable.”
The wage hike has also drawn concern from employers in remote and seasonal sectors, where domestic labour is often unavailable.
A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that 63% of employers using the TFWP foresee cutting back on foreign recruitment due to the new constraints, while nearly 40% fear operational disruptions within six months if migrant staff numbers decline.
Advocacy groups argue that the reforms may undermine Canada’s longstanding appeal as a destination for global talent, especially skilled professionals and semi-skilled workers from countries such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and India, who have helped fill critical labour gaps for decades.
“Canada cannot afford to send mixed signals to the global workforce,” said Rosa Nkem, a spokesperson for the Migrant Workers Solidarity Coalition.
“You can’t invite workers to sustain your economy and then make their presence contingent on fast-changing, increasingly hostile policies.”
In response to mounting criticism, the Canadian government maintains that the reforms are necessary to strike a fair balance between economic need and domestic employment.
“Canadians must be first in line for available jobs,” Employment and Social Development Canada said in a statement.
“However, we continue to value the role of foreign workers in supporting our industries, and we are monitoring the situation closely.”
Still, advocates say more needs to be done to provide transitional protections for workers affected by policy shifts, including automatic permit extensions, open work permits, and better access to immigration legal aid.
“The human cost of these changes cannot be ignored,” Bamidele said.
“It’s time Canada backs its reputation with real protections, not just slogans.”
As tensions rise, many workers in limbo await clarification — or face the prospect of abrupt return to countries they’ve not called home in years.
