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Seasonal Agricultural Program

Seasonal Agricultural Program

The Canada LMIA Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a federal program that allows employers in the Canadian agricultural sector to hire foreign workers temporarily to meet their seasonal labor needs. The program aims to ensure that Canadian agricultural employers have access to a reliable and consistent source of labor while ensuring that foreign workers are protected and treated fairly under Canadian labor laws.

Under the SAWP, eligible employers can hire workers from participating countries for a maximum of 8 months per year to perform specific agricultural work, such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. Workers are required to return to their home country after their work permit expires, and may be eligible to return to Canada for subsequent seasons if their employer requires their services.

To participate in the SAWP, employers must meet certain eligibility criteria and follow specific procedures, including obtaining a positive LMIA and providing workers with acceptable working conditions and wages that meet or exceed the minimum standards set by Canadian law. Workers must also meet certain eligibility requirements, including having a job offer from a participating Canadian agricultural employer and meeting specific health, security, and language requirements.

Overall, the SAWP provides Canadian agricultural employers with access to a reliable and skilled labor force while offering foreign workers the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn income to support their families back home.

Employers must make efforts to recruit Canadian citizens and permanent residents for the available job positions before applying for an LMIA under the SAWP. The employer must offer the job to a foreign worker from a participating country under the SAWP.

The employer must submit an LMIA application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), along with all required supporting documents.

Once the employer has received a positive LMIA, they must provide the foreign worker with an offer of employment, which includes details of the job, wages, and working conditions.

The foreign worker must apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) once they have received the job offer and positive LMIA.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility criteria for employers under the SAWP program are as follows:

  • Employers must be engaged in primary agriculture in Canada.
  • Employers must have sufficient resources and production to justify the need for temporary foreign workers.
  • Employers must provide acceptable housing for the workers.
  • Employers must provide workers with employment that is related to the primary agriculture business.
  • Employers must pay wages that are equal to or higher than the prevailing wage rate for the occupation and region.
  • Employers must comply with all applicable federal and provincial/territorial employment and labor laws and regulations.
  • Employers must comply with all program requirements, including those related to recruitment, housing, working conditions, and transportation.

The eligibility criteria for foreign workers under the SAWP program are as follows:

  • Workers must be citizens of a country that has a bilateral agreement with Canada for the SAWP program.
  • Workers must have the skills, experience, and/or training required for the job.
  • Workers must meet all applicable medical, security, and admissibility requirements for entering and working in Canada.
DOCUMENT REQUIREMENT

Employer Documentation:

  • Proof of business registration.
  • Proof of labor shortages in Canada.
  • Recruitment efforts to hire Canadian workers.
  • Housing plans for foreign workers.
  • Proof of payment of prevailing wage rates.
  • Compliance with employment and labor laws and regulations.
  • Compliance with SAWP program requirements.

Foreign Worker Documentation:

  • Passport or travel document.
  • Valid work permit.
  • Medical examination documents.
  • Police clearance certificate.
  • Other supporting documents, as required.

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