This publication is intended to provide general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.

Employment agencies:

• Assist employers by recruiting employees

• Helppeopleseekingemploymentfindwork,or

• Evaluateortestforjobrelatedskillsforemployersseekingemployees.

EmploymentagenciesaregovernedbytheConsumer Protection Act(CPA)andtheEmploymentAgencyBusinessLicensing Regulation.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY BUSINESS LICENCE CLASSES AND REQUIREMENTS?

Therearetwoclassesofemploymentagencybusinesslicences:

• National employment agencies

• International employment agencies.

National employment agency businessesareauthorizedtorecruitemployeesfromorassistindividualsinAlberta.TheycanalsorecruitemployeesfromorassistindividualsfromotherjurisdictionsinCanada,whoareseekingemploymentinAlberta.

International employment agency businessesareauthorizedtorecruitemployeesfromoutsideCanadaorassistindividualsoutsideCanadawhoareseekingemploymentinAlberta.

Anemploymentagencybusinessmayhavemorethanoneclass of licence.

Employment Agencies

CONTENTS Page

WHO REQUIRES A LICENCE TO OPERATE? 2

WHAT FEES ARE PROHIBITED? 2

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR BREACHING THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT? 3

CAN AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PAY A FOREIGN WORKER’S WAGES ON BEHALF OF THE WORKER’S EMPLOYER? 4

WHAT IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE? 4

HOW IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE DIFFERENT FROM AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY? 5

CAN AN EMPLOYER SEND A FOREIGN WORKER HOME BEFORE THEIR WORK PERMIT EXPIRES? 6

FOR MORE INFORMATION 6

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Licencesareissuedfor24monthsandthefeeis$120forthelicenceorrenewal.TheDirectormayrequire applicants to submit a security.

WHO REQUIRES A LICENCE TO OPERATE?

UndertheFTA,businessesarerequiredtohaveanEmploymentAgencyBusinessLicenceiftheyareworkingonbehalfofemployees,employersorbothby:

• FindingjobsforCanadiansornon-Canadiansin Alberta;

• RecruitingworkersforCanadianornon-CanadianemployersinAlberta;or

• Recruitingnon-CanadianworkersforAlbertaemployers or for jobs in Alberta.

Youcansearchforlicensedagenciesonourwebsite:http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/find-if-business-is-licenced.cfm

Consumer Contact Centre

Edmontonarea:Tel:780-427-4088 Toll-freeinAlberta:1-877-427-4088 OutsideAlberta:1-780-427-4088

WHAT FEES ARE PROHIBITED?

Anemploymentagencycannotdemandorcollectafeefromanindividualitishelpingtofindajobor recruiting.

Noemploymentagencymaydemandorholdabondordepositfromanindividual.Itisagainstthelawforanyfeetobecollectedfromapersonevenifitmayberefundedlater.

An employment agency cannot tell an employer thattheemployercanrecoverthecostsoftheagency’sservicesfromtheemployee.

WHAT FEES CAN BE CHARGED?

Employmentagenciescanchargeemployersfortheirservices.

Employmentagenciescanchargeindividualsfeesforservices,aslongastheservicesarenotfor recruitment.

Forexample,anemploymentagencymaychargeanindividualforservicessuchasjob-skillstrainingandresumepreparation.Todothis,theemploymentagencymusthaveaseparatewrittenagreementthatsetsoutthefee.

Employmentagenciescannotmakeanindividualpayforotherservicesasaconditiontohelpthepersonfindwork.Anemploymentagencythatchargesafeeforotherservicesmustensurethefeeisreasonable,inwriting,andhasthedocumentedconsentoftheindividualbeforeprovidingtheservices.

An employment agency cannot

demandorcollectafeefroman

individualitishelpingtofinda

job or recruiting.

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WHAT ARE THE UNFAIR PRACTICES IN THE REGULATION?

It is an unfair practice to:

• Exploitanyfearorlackofexperienceofaconsumer

• Exertunduepressure,threatenorharassaconsumer

• Givefalse,misleadingordeceptiveinformationinadvertisements,solicitations,negotiationsorrepresentationswithrespecttoservicesprovidedbytheemploymentagency

• Givefalse,misleadingordeceptiveinformationrelatingtoemploymentpositions,legalrights,immigration,orthegenerallivingorworkingconditionsinAlberta

• Failtoenterintoaseparateagreementforservicesnotdirectlyrelatedtosecuringemploymentforanindividual(e.g.resume–writing)

• Requireajob-seekertoprovideadeposit,securityorbond

• Directlyorindirectlydemandorcollectaprohibitedfee,rewardorothercompensation.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR BREACHING THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT?

FailuretocomplywiththeConsumer Protection Actmayresultinafineofupto$300,000,ajailtermofuptotwoyearsorboth.

STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS

Whenthereisastrikeorlockoutinprogress,noemploymentagencyistoknowinglysendorassistinsendingaworkertoreplaceanemployeewhoisonstrikeorlockedoutwithoutinformingtheworkerofthestrikeorlockout.

DOES A LICENCE REPRESENT GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT?

An employment agency cannot represent or imply thatanemploymentagencybusinesslicenceisanendorsementorapprovalofthebusinessoperatorbytheGovernmentofAlberta.However,thisdoesnotprohibittheemploymentagencyfromindicatingtheyarelicensed.

FailuretocomplywiththeConsumer Protection Actmayresultinafineofupto$300,000,ajailtermofuptotwoyearsorboth.

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CAN AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PAY A FOREIGN WORKER’S WAGES ON BEHALF OF THE WORKER’S EMPLOYER?

ServiceCanadahasestablishedrequirementsforemploymentagenciesandemployersthatwanttoenterintoanarrangementofthisnature.Formoreinformation,contactServiceCanada’sTemporaryForeignWorkerProgram. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/employers/temp-foreign-worker-program.asp.

WHAT IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE?

An immigration representative is someone appointedbyaforeignworkertoconductbusinessontheirbehalfwithImmigration,RefugeesandCitizenshipCanada(IRCC),CanadaBorderServicesAgencyortheImmigrationandRefugeeBoardofCanada.Animmigrationrepresentativemay,forexample,helpapersoncompletetheirIRCCapplicationsorcommunicatewithIRCConthatperson’sbehalf.

An immigration representative may also be appointedbyaforeignworkertoconductbusinessontheirbehalfwiththeAlbertaImmigrant Nominee Program (AINP). All IRCC andAINPapplicationsareavailablefreeofchargeandapersonisnotrequiredtouseanimmigration representative to complete or submit them.

Who can act as an immigration representative?

Therearetwotypesofimmigrationrepresentatives:

Paid

Inordertochargeafee,representativesmustbeauthorizedtoconductbusinessfortheirclients.

Thefollowingareexamplesofauthorizedrepresentatives:

• AlawyeringoodstandingwithaCanadianprovincialorterritoriallawsocietyorastudent-at-lawundertheirsupervision.

• AnimmigrationconsultantingoodstandingwiththeImmigrationConsultantsofCanadaRegulatory Council (ICCRC).

• AnotaryingoodstandingwiththeChambredesnotairesduQuebecorStudent-in-lawundertheirsupervision.

Unpaid

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HOW IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE DIFFERENT FROM AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY?

Apaidimmigrationrepresentativeandanemploymentagencyofferdifferentservices.Forexample,animmigrationrepresentativedoesnotusually assist a person in securing employment orinfindingemployeesforanemployer.Further,anemploymentagencycannotcommunicatewithIRCConaperson’sbehalfunlesstheyarealsoalawyeroranImmigrationConsultantsofCanadaRegulatory Council member.

Will using an employment agency or an immigration representative speed the process to hire foreign workers?

No. An employment agency or an immigration representativemayassistincompletingthenecessaryapplicationformmoreefficiently,butoncetheapplicationissubmitted,theagencyorimmigrationrepresentativehasnoinfluenceoverthespeedoftheprocess.

Who is responsible for a foreign worker’s legal documents and applications?

EmployersandindividualforeignworkersareresponsibleforcheckingthatallpaperworksubmittedtoandissuedbyServiceCanadaandIRCCiscorrect(e.g.labourmarketopinion,workpermit).

Donotrelyonanemploymentagencyoranimmigrationrepresentativetoensurethatallthenecessarypaperworkhasbeencompleted. (EmployersareresponsibleforensuringtheirforeignworkershavepermissiontoworkinCanadabeforestartingwork.FailuretodothisisanoffenceundertheImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).)

PASSPORTS AND PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

No employment agency or employer may force a foreignworkertohandovertheirpassport,workpermitorotherpersonallegaldocuments.

DOES ALBERTA WORKPLACE LEGISLATION APPLY TO FOREIGN WORKERS?

Yes.Alberta’slawsofferforeignworkersthesameprotectionasotherworkersintheprovince.CheckwithAlbertaLabourEmploymentStandardsBranchforemploymentstandardsandworkplacehealthandsafetyregulations.

ForeignworkersarealsocoveredundertheWorkers’ Compensation Act,providedtheyareworkinginanindustrytowhichtheactapplies.Undertheact,employersarerequiredtopostatallworksitesthe1-2-3posterthatexplainshowtoreportawork-relatedinjury.The1-2-3posterisavailableontheWorkers’CompensationBoardwebsitein15languagesat https://www.wcb.ab.ca/resources/for-employers/forms-and-guides/

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CAN AN EMPLOYER SEND A FOREIGN WORKER HOME BEFORE THEIR WORK PERMIT EXPIRES?

Anemployeroremploymentagencyhasnolegalauthoritytosendaforeignworkerhomeagainsttheirwillortopreventthemfromsubmittingacomplaint.OnlytheGovernmentofCanadahasthelegalauthoritytoremoveordeportanindividualfromCanada.

IfaCanadianornon-Canadianemployeedoesnotcarryoutthedutiesagreedtointheemploymentcontract,theemployercangivetheemployeetherequirednoticeorpayinlieuofnotice.

ForeignworkersareentitledtoremaininCanadaforthefulltermoftheirworkpermit.Anemployeror an employment agency cannot force a foreign workertoreturntotheircountryoforiginifanemploymentcontractisterminatedbeforetheworkpermitexpiresoriftheforeignworkerdecidestofindajobwithanotheremployer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tomakecomplaintsaboutemploymentagencies,or inquire about employment agency licensing andtheConsumer Protection Act:

Consumer Contact Centre

Edmontonarea:780-427-4088 Toll-freeinAlberta:1-877-427-4088 OutsideAlberta:1-780-427-4088 www.servicealberta.ca

Queen’s Printer Bookstore

YoumaypurchaseActsandregulationsfromtheQueen’sPrinterBookstore: 10611-98Avenue,Edmonton,AlbertaT5K2P7 Edmonton:780-427-4952 Toll-freeinAlberta:Dial310-0000then 780-427-4952

Thesearealsofreeforyoutodownloadinthe“pdf”or“html”formatsatwww.qp.alberta.ca

Anemployeroremploymentagencyhasnolegalauthoritytosendaforeignworkerhomeagainsttheirwillortopreventthemfromsubmitting a complaint.

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TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER ADVISORY OFFICES:

North Location

MainFloor,SterlingPlace 9940-106Street EdmontonABT5K2N2 Telephone:780-644-2584

South Location

Suite150,717-7AvenueSW CalgaryABT2P0Z3 Telephone:403-476-4540

Temporary Foreign Worker Helpline

Edmonton:780-644-2584 Toll-free:1-877-944-9955

Mediation Services (collective bargaining between employers and union)

Edmonton:780-427-8301inEdmonton Toll-freeinAlberta:Dial310-0000followedby780-427-8301

Immigrate to Alberta Information Service

Toll-free:1-877-427-6419 OutsideAlberta:780-427-6419Out

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Service Canada

Toll-free1-800-367-5693 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/employers/temp-foreign-worker-program.asp

WORK PERMITS AND VISAS

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Toll-freeinCanada:1-888-242-2100 www.cic.gc.ca

ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Employment Standards Contact Centre

780-427-3731(Edmontonandarea) Toll-freeinAlberta:1-877-427-3731 OutsideAlberta:1-780-427-3731 https://work.alberta.ca/employment-standards.html

ALBERTA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Workplace Health and Safety Contact Centre

Edmonton:780-415-8690 Toll-free:1-866-415-8690 Generalinquiries:(8:15amto4:30pmMondaytoFriday) Emergenices:(24hours/day,7days/week) https://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/contact-us.html

OTHER CONTACTS

Workers’ compensation

Workers’ Compensation Board Customer Contact Centre Edmontonandarea:780-498-3999 Toll-freeinAlberta:1-866-922-9221 Toll-freeoutsideAlberta:1-800-661-9608 https://www.wcb.ab.ca/about-wcb/contact-us.html

ThisandotherconsumerpublicationsareavailableattheServiceAlbertawebsiteatwww.servicealberta.ca.MostpubliclibrarieshaveInternetaccessifyoudon’thaveaccessathome.

Ifyouneedmorecopiesofthispublication,youhavepermissiontophotocopy.

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