Labour Market Opinion or LMO is needed by Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for them to obtain a work permit and be able to work in Canada.  LMO is a document issued by the Canadian government to an OFW’s employer.  This will allow OFWs to get a sponsored work permit for Canada. LMO is now called the Labour Marker Impact Assessment or LMIA.

LMO is to be applied by the Canadian employer before hiring OFWs. A positive LMIA will show that

• There is no Canadian worker available to do the job.
• There is a need for the foreign worker or OFWs to fill the job the employer offers. And,
• Hiring a TFW or OFW will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market.

Work categories that usually require LMIAs are: 

• High-skilled occupations – although there is some that do not require an LMIA.
• Lower-skilled occupations – work for OFWs which requires at most a high school diploma or job-specific training.
• Seasonal agricultural workers
• Live-in Caregivers – those under the Live-in Caregiver Program

Last year, the Canadian government made revisions on their Temporary Foreign Worker Program.  These changes were made to ensure that employers look for qualified Canadians or permanent residents before hiring foreign workers like OFWs.  Some of the main changes are: 

• Higher fees for LMO processing per temporary foreign worker request.
• Advertising of job openings for a month in Canada before applying for an LMO/LMIA.
• Employers must continue advertising the job openings and seek qualified Canadians and permanent residents until notification of an issued LMO is received.

These modifications were made to guarantee that Canada residents are employed first before foreign workers.  At such, it may be difficult now for OFWs to attain an overseas job in Canada. But OFWs need not worry because Filipinos are often chosen as workers for they are hardworking and dedicated to their jobs.

Based on the 2012 Annual Statistics of LMO, the Philippines ranked first among the countries with the most number of TFW positions on positive LMOs in Canada. (Source:http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/lmo_statistics/annual-top-country.shtml)

Job openings in Canada for Filipinos

Related articles:

How to Get a Job in Canada – Direct Hiring

How OFWs Can Apply for a Work Permit Visa in Canada

OFWs were warned vs. Offers for Certain Jobs in Canada