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Part of Temporary Foreign Workers

Resources for temporary foreign workers

Find information and resources to help temporary foreign workers adapt to working in Alberta.

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Temporary Foreign Workers
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Your rights and responsibilities

It is important for temporary foreign workers to be aware of their employment rights and responsibilities. Knowing your rights helps ensure fair treatment in the workplace, protection from exploitation and access to necessary services. This includes understanding employment standards, work conditions, wages, pay statements and employer obligations. Additionally, temporary foreign workers should be aware of their rights related to housing, healthcare, employment contracts, protections against human trafficking and options for changing employers.

The following resources provide valuable information to help you navigate these important aspects of working in Canada:

The following fact sheet has information on your rights and responsibilities as a worker in Alberta, and the support you can access from Alberta's Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office.

It is important for temporary foreign workers to be aware of their human rights and protections against discrimination in Alberta.

Safety

These resources can help you learn how to stay safe at work.

Employment agencies

Employment agencies can help:

  • people look for work in Alberta
  • employers recruit employees in Alberta

Licence requirements

Employment agencies must have a licence issued by Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction to operate in Alberta or recruit for an employer located in Alberta.

This is the law even if the agency recruits people outside of Alberta.

Find out if an employment agency is licensed.

Rules

Employment agencies cannot:

  • demand or collect a fee from a temporary foreign worker for recruiting services or for helping them find a job
  • demand or hold a bond or deposit from an individual
    • It is against the law to collect any fee from a person even if the agency may pay it back later.
  • tell an employer that the employer can recover costs of the agency’s services from the employee
    • This includes deducting from the employee’s salary or demanding cash from the employee.
  • make an individual pay for other services as a condition to help the person find work
    • This includes immigration services.

Learn more about employment agencies:

Temporary foreign workers can file a complaint with government if they believe an immigration consultant or employment agency has:

  • deceived or misled them
  • charged prohibited fees
  • otherwise broke the rules described in the legislation

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL drop-in centres

Visit an ESL drop-in Centre to get help  in your settlement transition, enhance your English skills and find employment.

Calgary

The Immigrant Education Service

Edmonton

Cultural Connection Institute

Edson

Edson and District Community Learning Society

Taber

Taber & District Adult Learning Association

Immigration

If you are a temporary foreign worker interested in gaining permanent residency in the province, visit Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). You can learn more about AAIP by exploring the frequently asked questions section or attending a webinar.

Contact

When you contact the Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office, please be aware that our services are limited to providing information, guidance and resource supports that may be available. The Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office does not have the authority to make a complaint on your behalf, but may be able to provide guidance on an agency or agencies with authority specific to your individual circumstances.  

If you believe your employer is not meeting minimum employment standards and would like to make a complaint, please visit: Make an employment standards complaint.

Phone: You can contact the Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office toll-free throughout most of the world at 1-877-944-9955, with the following exception:

Email: jet.tfwao@gov.ab.ca

Office hours: 8:15 am – 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday)
Closed weekends and general holidays

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