Hiring an Immigrant for Your Business

Understanding and respecting one another’s culture is important for effective working relationships in any organization – especially when it comes to communication. Cross-cultural training in your workplace helps ensure smooth transitions for employees coming from different cultures. It will also promote cultural awareness and diversity in your team.

Your management style has a strong effect on your employees’ experiences. As you transition to a diverse workplace, it is important to examine different ways of managing. Being aware of how your management style considers different cultural backgrounds helps to get the most from your team and fosters a positive and effective working environment.

Successfully integrating an immigrant employee includes making sure all of your policies and practices are appropriate. Ensure the business ethics described in your code of conduct encourage a respectful workplace that values diversity and safety, while having zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment. Establishing effective employee orientation and mentoring processes will also be valuable to a smooth transition.

Occupational Health and Safety resources can be valuable tools in helping you define guidelines and policies. Be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Determine whether your interviewing practices will be effective when communicating with a candidate from a different culture, and how language barriers will be addressed.

Having the support of your management team is extremely important when hiring a newcomer. They will greatly affect how the new employee is perceived and welcomed into the organization.

Employers can use ESDC’s Job Bank to list their vacancies, as well as any other existing online job boards or other recruitment processes they prefer.

The Nova Scotia Immigration and Population Growth Branch regularly participates in recruitment missions around the world and across Canada with Nova Scotia employers, community partners and business organizations. The goal is to promote the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) and help with the recruitment of skilled workers that organizations have been unsuccessful in finding a Canadian to fill. Please contact our office for more information or to register for an event.

Information regarding the NSNP can be found in the Immigration Process section. Employers can also contact the Nova Scotia Immigration and Population Growth Branch with any questions or for further information.

 

Designated trades in Nova Scotia include Red Seal trades, and compulsory certified trades under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act or under another regulatory authority. A list of all designated trades can be found on the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency website.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program considers an occupation to be a skilled occupation if it falls under the National Occupation Classification levels 0, A or B. Priority for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is awarded to these higher skilled occupations.

The 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system is used to identify and categorize occupations based on the training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER) they require. High-skilled work is classified as TEER level 0, 1, 2 or 3 and low-skilled work is TEER level 4 or 5.

Applicants are responsible for covering the costs associated with immigration. Employers are not responsible for covering any costs, although they can choose to offer assistance, if they wish. There is no cost to the employer or immigrant to apply for nomination under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. 

Employers are responsible for all costs associated with recruitment of foreign workers.

A job offer must be from a registered Nova Scotia employer. The work permit will be employer specific and limited to the employee who is working in a specific position, for a specific employer. The offer must also be addressed to the applicant and list all of the following:

• Company’s contact information;
• Job title and description (duties and responsibilities);
• Experience required for the job;
• Specific start date (and end date if applicable); and
• Salary and benefits being provided.

Employers must offer fair wages and benefits based on labour market information, and provide working conditions equal to Canadian standards in that occupation.

Labour market information for Nova Scotia can be found on the Job Bank.

Typical processing time for a completed application averages approximately 3 months or more. The decision to process applications and processing timelines depends on several factors, including application volumes, quality of the application and labour market information. Once you have an application with our office, a program officer would contact you when your application is in assessment. 

An open work permit allows an immigrant to accept employment in Canada without the need of a LMIA. Once applicants have been nominated by the NSNP, their spouses can apply for an open work permit. The permit allows them to work for any employer and in any occupation.

Post Graduate Work Permit which is given to international students who have successfully completed their studies in Canada. The students apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit of up to 3 years. This work permit allows them to work for any employer and in any occupation without the requirement of an LMIA.

No, a temporary worker permit holder will be allowed to start and continue to work during the time span specified on the work permit.

Employers do not have to continue a working relationship if an immigrant employee does not meet job requirements, or if the employer must terminate due to a layoff. When terminating the employment of an immigrant employee, an employer must follow the procedures outlined in the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code. If the employee is a nominee, the Nova Scotia Immigration and Population Growth Branch needs to be informed of this change in status.

The Labour Standards Code now contains rules about hiring foreign workers to work in Nova Scotia. As of August 1, 2013, employers require a registration certificate from Labour Standards to lawfully hire a foreign worker in Nova Scotia. 

Employers need to provide the certificate of registration when applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with Service Canada. There is no fee for the certificate of registration.