Temporary Resident Retention Pilot

Employers who have met the minimum eligibility requirements can apply to retain temporary workers. Employers must complete the application process.

NOTE: Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval.

The Temporary Resident Retention Pilot supports employers who already have a temporary resident employee employed with them.

The pilot aligns with Manitoba’s economic and immigration needs and priorities.  The selection of successful employer applications and foreign worker candidates will vary based on these factors.

Eligible employers must:

• Have owned and actively operated the business for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to submitting the application.
• Be incorporated or registered, and in good standing, under an act of the legislature of a province or the Government of Canada.
• Operate a business with an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Manitoba, in the following sectors:
  • Agriculture
  • Construction and trades
  • Information technology
  • Food processing
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare
  • Education, or
  • Manufacturing
• Be a commercial business with a minimum of $350,000 in gross annual revenue in each of the past three years.
• Show a positive retention rate of temporary foreign workers in the business in the three years preceding application submission.
  • Positive retention rate is defined as demonstrating a 50% retention rate of temporary resident workers over the three years.
• Maintain a clear employer-employee relationship (employees cannot be in a partnership or proprietor role, such as owner-operators in trucking or restaurant partnerships).
• Have a positive history with the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, and Federal or Provincial laws and regulations (no fines, administrative penalties, or systemic history of non-compliance).
• Submit copies of relevant contracts that demonstrate long-term, full-time positions for which the application is submitted, if the business operates as a placement agency.
• Provide a valid Workers Recruitment and Protection Act (WRAPA) Certificate of Registration from Employment Standards.
• Support the candidate’s work permit application, paying IRCC’s $230 employer compliance fee.

Ineligible employers:

• Employers who operate as placement agencies and only provide workers to other businesses on an as-needed basis.
• Employers who solely contract/employ owner operators, self-employed workers or independent contractors.
• Employers who intend to sell their business, or portion of their business, in the next 2 years.
• Employers listed on the Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada suspension list.
• Employers who have received fines for violations under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP).

Once you have determined your business and the position meets the minimum eligibility requirements, please proceed with completing the Temporary Resident Retention Pilot Application Form.

NOTE: Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval.

• The employee has worked for a minimum 18 months on full-time basis for the approved employer, with an ongoing long-term, permanent job offer.
  • Full-time employment is defined as 30 or more hours worked per week.
• The employee has resided more than 50% of their time in Canada, in Manitoba. This includes time on visitor, study and work permits.
• The employee’s wages must meet the wages and working conditions offered to citizens/permanent residents working in a similar position.
• Wages cannot be less than the median prevailing wage rate for that occupation in the respective region, as indicated in the NOC; please visit https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
• If the employee works in TEER 4 and 5, please see TEER 4 and 5 occupations section below.

If the occupation requires licensure or certification, the intended candidate must apply to the regulatory body to have their qualifications and skills assessed and/or pass an examination (https://immigratemanitoba.com/work/regulated-occupations/).

Including all criteria listed above, employees must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Age: 21–45 (unless requested by employer).
• Work Permit: Hold a valid work permit that will expire less than 1 year from Temporary Resident Retention Pilot application date or be on maintained status.
• Location: Currently reside in Manitoba.
• Official languages proficiency: For TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 occupations, candidates must meet demonstrated language proficiency of at least CLB 5 in each test category (skill area) according to the CLB Language Grid. TEER 4 and 5 occupations will require a minimum of CLB 4.
• Must meet the minimum 60 MPNP assessment points Please visit the Points Assessment page to learn how these points are calculated.
• The employee is not eligible for Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates | Manitoba Immigration.
• The employee has not been endorsed by a Regional Immigration Initiative.

If the wage rate is less than the NOC’s median prevailing wage for the region, the employer must consider additional factors to assist by:

• Pay the fees for the TFW’s work permit.
• Provide reasonable access to assistance with all aspects of settlement and integration.

The Temporary Resident Retention Pilot is designed to help employers retain their current employees, on work permits in Manitoba. Because these positions are already filled, advertising is not required as part of the application process for this pilot.

If your business is looking to hire overseas workers along with temporary residents already in Manitoba, you must complete both of the following applications:

• Temporary Resident Retention Pilot Form
• Employer Direct Initiative Application