LMO and Work Permits 

A Canadian employer must apply for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) before they can hire a foreign worker. The LMO is a report issued by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that outlines the impact that hiring a foreign worker would have on Canada's labour market.

A positive Labour Market Opinion will show that there is a need for the foreign worker to fill the job you offer and that there is no Canadian worker available to do the job.

The LMO Process

As a Canadian employer, you are required to prove that:

• You have made efforts to recruit and/or train Canadian citizens/permanent residents;
• You offer wages that are consistent with the prevailing wage rate paid to Canadians in the same occupation in the region;
• The working conditions for the occupation meet the current provincial labour market standards; and
• Hiring the foreign worker will benefit the Canadian labour market, such as the creation of new jobs or the transfer of skills and knowledge.

If you get a positive Labour Market Opinion, you will need to send a copy to the foreign worker you wish to hire. The foreign worker will submit the LMO with his or her application for a work permit.

Call us to discuss your LMO requirements.