The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) – What this Pilot is all about?

What are the benefits of the new Recognized Employer Pilot?

The introduction of the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) brings forth an array of enticing benefits for eligible employers, such as:

• Access to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) valid for up to 36 months. This is a significant extension from the typical LMIA validity period of 18 months (or less if an employer has specific timelines for a short employment opportunity).

• A simplified application process and simplified LMIA application forms for positions on the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) list.

• A Job Bank designation that shows their recognized status to improve interest from prospective workers.

Who can participate in the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)?

Employers seeking to take part in the Pilot will undergo a more comprehensive initial evaluation conducted by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This assessment will be grounded in employers’ past history of compliance with the TFW Program and will depend, in part, on how often they use the Program to fill in-demand occupations. The intention behind this is to guarantee that the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) targets employers who demonstrate the highest standards of recruitment practices. As such, to participate in the REP, Canadian employers must meet the following requirements:

• demonstrate a history of complying with Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) requirements, and

• have a minimum of three positive LMIAs for the same occupation over the past five years from a list of occupations that have been designated as in-shortage and supported using Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) data. 

You may find the tables with eligible Positions from the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) list in the two tables below:

(COPS) Detailed list of occupational groupings showing strong signs of structural shortages (2019-2021):