Under the Global Talent Stream, employers who are in high growth industries or desire to employ IT professionals could apply for work permits and benefit by 2 week expedited processing times. This program was initiated to make sure companies can bring foreign workers to Canada quickly to meet the requirements of their growing business
Occupation List for the Global Talent Stream:
- Computer and information systems managers – NOC 0213
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) – NOC 2147)
- Mathematicians and statisticians – *subset of NOC 2161
- Information systems analysts and consultants – NOC 2171
- Database analysts and data administrators – NOC 2172
- Software engineers and designers – NOC 2173
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers – NOC 2174
- Web designers and developers – NOC 2175
- Computer Network technicians – NOC 2281
- Information systems testing technicians – 2283
- Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager (Visual effects and video game) – *subset of NOC 5131 and specific rules apply
- Digital Media and Design – *subset of NOC 5241 and specific rules apply
Wages for the Global Talent Stream
Importantly, employers need to meet conditions relating to the payment of skilled workers. Foreign workers employed via the GTS have to be paid at the higher or prevailing wage. The prevailing wage is defined as the highest figure of either:
- the median wage (for the occupation on the Government of Canada's Job Bank);
- the wage within the range an employer pays current employees in the identical position at the same location, and with the same abilities and experience;
- if applicable, the minimum wage floor as defined in the Global Talent occupations list.
Employers need to pay a salary equal to the highest of either:
- the applicable minimum wage for the occupation for a highly-skilled position (as identified in the Global Talent Occupations List);
- the wage that is within the wage range that the employer is paying current employees employed for the identical job and work location, and with the same abilities and years of experience; or;
- the median wage on the Government of Canada's Job Bank. The median wage is listed by job title or National Occupational Classification (NOC) code in the central column, by community or area in the country's job bank.
Labour Market Benefits Plan
Employers considering to employ skilled workers via the Global Talent Stream need to work with ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan. This plan outlines the admirable benefits that foreign talent will bring forth to the Canadian labour market, and activities that the employer will take on to motivate job creation, training investments, and skills.
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, employers need to devote to increasing investments in skills and training.
As well as to the above mandatory benefits, employers need to devote to 2 further complementary benefits, supported by defined activities. These benefits can include (but are not limited to) investment in skills and training, transferring knowledge to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, job creation, and/or improving company performance.
Too add, activities to support these benefits could include (but are not limited to) training current employees in new techniques, hiring additional Canadian citizens or permanent residents, creating paid co-op or internship programs for local students, and/or enlarging revenue and investments.
Work Permit Exemptions
Two new categories of workers are at this moment exempt from the requirement to get a work permit, under the Global Talent Stream:
- Highly-skilled workers in skill type 0 or skill level A occupations of the NOC may enter the country to work for 15 days (in a six-month period), or for 30 days (in a 12-month period), without obtaining a work permit.
- Without needing a work permit, researchers working on research projects at a publicly-funded degree-granting institution or affiliated research institution may come to Canada for 120 days (in a 12-month period).