Specific obligations depending on the stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

In addition to the employers’ general obligations to temporary foreign workers, obligations are added depending on the category of temporary position offered to the worker.

Wages

The wages of agricultural workers must be equal to or higher than the minimum rate determined by the Government of Quebec, depending on the type of position to be filled.

The wage offered must never be lower than the minimum wage rate in force in Québec.

Other obligations

Your employer must:

• Provide suitable accommodations on or off-site to the worker. For the agricultural component, the employer may deduct a set amount of $30 per week from the salary paid to the worker.
• Pay for round trip transportation. The worker must be able to travel to their place of work in Canada at the beginning of the employment period and return to their country of residence at the end of that period. For the SAWP, the employer can recover a portion of the cost of the tickets by deducting an amount from the wages paid to the worker.
• Provide free daily transportation between the farm worker’s place of residence in Quebec and their place of work.

The employer must:

• Assume the transportation costs (return trip) The worker must be able to get to the workplace in Canada at the beginning of the employment period and return to the country of residence at the end of the employment period
• Offer the worker suitable and affordable housing. Otherwise, the employer must ensure such housing is made available to the worker.

A home care provider may reside with the employer, but this is not mandatory. If the foreign worker agrees to do so, the employer shall, in addition to the obligations for low-wage positions, comply with the following obligations:

• Provide them with all their meals
• Provide them with an individual room, adequately
  • Furnished
  • Heated
  • Ventilated and
  • Equipped with a safety latch in good condition
• Supply a key to their residence and the security code