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

Evaluateortestforjobrelatedskillsforemployersseeking

employees.

EmploymentagenciesaregovernedbytheFair Trading Act(FTA)andtheEmploymentAgencyBusinessLicensingRegulation.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY BUSINESS LICENCE CLASSES AND REQUIREMENTS?

Therearetwoclassesofemploymentagencybusinesslicence:

National employment agencies

International employment agencies.

National employment agency businessesareauthorizedtorecruitemployeesfromorassistindividualsinAlberta,orrecruit

employeesfromorassistindividualsfromotherjurisdictionsin

Canada,whoareseekingemploymentinAlberta.

International employment agency businessesareauthorizedtorecruitemployeesfromoutsideCanadaorassistindividuals

outsideCanadawhoareseekingemploymentinAlberta.

Anemploymentagencybusinessmayhavemorethanone

class 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 FAIR TRADING ACT? 3

CAN AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PAY A FOREIGN WORKERS WAGES ON BEHALF OF THE WORKERS 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

CONSUMER TIPS

2CONSUMER TIPS

Licencesareissuedfor24monthsandthefee

is$120forthelicenceorrenewal.TheDirector

may require applicants to submit a security.

WHO REQUIRES A LICENCE TO OPERATE?

UndertheFTA,businessesarerequiredtohave

anEmploymentAgencyBusinessLicenceifthey

areworkingonbehalfofemployees,employers

orbothby:

FindingjobsforCanadiansornon-Canadians

in Alberta;

RecruitingworkersforCanadianornon-

CanadianemployersinAlberta;or

Recruitingnon-CanadianworkersforAlberta

employers or for jobs in Alberta.

Youcansearchforlicensedagenciesonour

website:www.servicealberta.ca/976.cfmor

contact:

Consumer Contact Centre

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

WHAT FEES ARE PROHIBITED?

Anemploymentagencycannotdemandorcollect

afeefromanindividualitishelpingtofindajob

or recruiting.

Noemploymentagencymaydemandorholda

bondordepositfromanindividual.Itisagainst

thelawforanyfeetobecollectedfromaperson

evenifitmayberefundedlater.

An employment agency cannot tell an employer thattheemployercanrecoverthecostsofthe

agencysservicesfromtheemployee.

WHAT FEES CAN BE CHARGED?

Employmentagenciescanchargeemployersfor

theirservices.

Employmentagenciescanchargeindividuals

feesforservices,aslongastheservicesarenot

for recruitment.

Forexample,anemploymentagencymaycharge

anindividualforservicessuchasjob-skills

trainingandresumepreparation.Todothis,

theemploymentagencymusthaveaseparate

writtenagreementthatsetsoutthefee.

Employmentagenciescannotmakeanindividual

payforotherservicesasaconditiontohelpthe

personfindwork.Anemploymentagencythat

chargesafeeforotherservicesmustensure

thefeeisreasonable,inwriting,andhasthe

documentedconsentoftheindividualbefore

providingtheservices.

An employment agency cannot

demandorcollectafeefroman

individualitishelpingtofinda

job or recruiting.

3Employment Agencies

WHAT ARE THE UNFAIR PRACTICES IN THE REGULATION?

It is an unfair practice to:

Exploit any fear or lack of experience of a consumer

Exertunduepressure,threatenorharassa

consumer

Givefalse,misleadingordeceptive

informationinadvertisements,solicitations,

negotiationsorrepresentationswithrespectto

servicesprovidedbytheemploymentagency

Givefalse,misleadingordeceptive

informationrelatingtoemploymentpositions,

legalrights,immigration,orthegeneralliving

orworkingconditionsinAlberta

Fail to enter into a separate agreement for servicesnotdirectlyrelatedtosecuring

employmentforanindividual(e.g.resume

writing)

Requireajob-seekertoprovideadeposit,

securityorbond

Directlyorindirectlydemandorcollecta

prohibitedfee,rewardorothercompensation.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR BREACHING THE FAIR TRADING ACT?

FailuretocomplywiththeFairTradingActmay

resultinafineofupto$300,000,ajailtermofup

totwoyearsorboth.

STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS

Whenthereisastrikeorlockoutinprogress,

noemploymentagencyistoknowinglysend

orassistinsendingaworkertoreplacean

employeewhoisonstrikeorlockedoutwithout

informingtheworkerofthestrikeorlockout.

DOES A LICENCE REPRESENT GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT?

An employment agency cannot represent or imply thatanemploymentagencybusinesslicence

isanendorsementorapprovalofthebusiness

operatorbytheGovernmentofAlberta.However,

thisdoesnotprohibittheemploymentagency

fromindicatingtheyarelicensed.

FailuretocomplywiththeFairTradingActmayresultinafineofupto$300,000,ajailtermofuptotwoyearsorboth.

4CONSUMER TIPS

CAN AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PAY A FOREIGN WORKERS WAGES ON BEHALF OF THE WORKERS EMPLOYER?

ServiceCanadahasestablishedrequirements

foremploymentagenciesandemployersthat

wanttoenterintoanarrangementofthisnature.

Formoreinformation,contactServiceCanadas

Temporary Foreign Worker Program. www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_

workers/index.shtml

WHAT IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE?

An immigration representative is someone appointedbyaforeignworkertoconduct

businessontheirbehalfwithCitizenshipand

ImmigrationCanada(CIC),CanadaBorder

ServicesAgencyortheImmigrationandRefugee

Board.Animmigrationrepresentativemay,for

example,helpapersoncompletetheirCIC

applicationsorcommunicatewithCIConthat

personsbehalf.

An immigration representative may also be appointedbyaforeignworkertoconduct

businessontheirbehalfwiththeAlberta

Provincial Nominee Program (Alberta PNP). All CICandAlbertaPNPapplicationsareavailable

freeofchargeandapersonisnotrequiredto

use an immigration representative to complete or submitthem.

Who can act as an immigration representative?

Therearetwotypesofimmigration

representatives:

Paid

Inordertochargeafee,representativesmustbe

authorizedtoconductbusinessfortheirclients.

Thefollowingareexamplesofauthorized

representatives:

AlawyeringoodstandingwithaCanadian

provincialorterritoriallawsocietyora

student-at-lawundertheirsupervision.

Animmigrationconsultantingoodstanding

withtheImmigrationConsultantsofCanada

Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

AnotaryingoodstandingwiththeChambre

desnotairesduQuebecorStudent-in-law

undertheirsupervision.

Unpaid

Immigrationrepresentativeswhoareunpaidmay

includeafamilymember,friendoramemberofa

non-governmentalorreligiousorganization.

5Employment Agencies

HOW IS AN IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATIVE DIFFERENT FROM AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY?

Apaidimmigrationrepresentativeandan

employmentagencyofferdifferentservices.For

example,animmigrationrepresentativedoesnot

usually assist a person in securing employment orinfindingemployeesforanemployer.Further,

anemploymentagencycannotcommunicatewith

CIConapersonsbehalf.

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

No. An employment agency or an immigration representativemayassistincompletingthe

necessaryapplicationformmoreefficiently,but

oncetheapplicationissubmitted,theagencyor

immigrationrepresentativehasnoinfluenceover

thespeedoftheprocess.

Who is responsible for a foreign workers legal documents and applications?

Employersandindividualforeignworkersare

responsibleforcheckingthatallpaperwork

submittedtoandissuedbyServiceCanadaand

CICiscorrect(e.g.labourmarketopinion,work

permit).

Donotrelyonanemploymentagencyoran

immigrationrepresentativetoensurethatallthe

necessarypaperworkhasbeencompleted. (Employersareresponsibleforensuringtheir

foreignworkershavepermissiontoworkin

Canadabeforestartingwork.Failuretodothisis

anoffenceundertheImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).)

PASSPORTS AND PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

No employment agency or employer may force a foreignworkertohandovertheirpassport,work

permitorotherpersonallegaldocuments.

DOES ALBERTA WORKPLACE LEGISLATION APPLY TO FOREIGN WORKERS?

Yes.Albertaslawsofferforeignworkersthesameprotectionasotherworkersinthe

province.CheckwithAlbertaHumanServices

EmploymentStandardsBranch,foremployment

standardsandworkplacehealthandsafety

regulations.

Foreignworkersarealsocoveredunderthe

WorkersCompensationAct,providedtheyare

workinginanindustrytowhichtheactapplies.

Undertheact,employersarerequiredtopostat

allworksitesthe1-2-3posterthatexplainshow

toreportawork-relatedinjury.The1-2-3poster

isavailableontheWorkersCompensationBoard

websitein15languagesat www.wcb.ab.ca/employers/123_poster.asp

6CONSUMER TIPS

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

Anemployeroremploymentagencyhasnolegal

authoritytosendaforeignworkerhomeagainst

theirwillortopreventthemfromsubmittinga

complaint.OnlytheGovernmentofCanada

hasthelegalauthoritytoremoveordeportan

individualfromCanada.

IfaCanadianornon-Canadianemployee

doesnotcarryoutthedutiesagreedtointhe

employmentcontract,theemployercangivethe

employeetherequirednoticeorpayinlieuof

notice.

ForeignworkersareentitledtoremaininCanada

forthefulltermoftheirworkpermit.Anemployer

or an employment agency cannot force a foreign workertoreturntotheircountryoforiginifan

employmentcontractisterminatedbeforethe

workpermitexpiresoriftheforeignworker

decidestofindajobwithanotheremployer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tomakecomplaintsaboutemploymentagencies,

or inquire about employment agency licensing andtheFair Trading Act:

Consumer Contact Centre

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

Queens Printer Bookstore

YoumaypurchaseActsandregulationsfromthe

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

Thesearealsofreeforyoutodownloadinthe

pdforhtmlformatsatwww.qp.alberta.ca

Anemployeroremploymentagencyhasnolegalauthoritytosendaforeignworkerhomeagainsttheirwillortopreventthemfromsubmitting a complaint.

7Employment Agencies

GENERAL INFORMATION

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Service Canada

Suite1440CanadaPlace,9700JasperAve. Edmonton,ABT5J4C1 Toll-freeinAlbertaandNorthwestTerritories: 1-800-418-4446

Outside Alberta and Northwest Territories:

780-495-7972(Leaveamessage) www.hrsdc.gc.ca

WORK PERMITS AND VISAS

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

ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Employment Standards Contact Centre

780-427-3731(Edmontonandarea) Toll-freeinAlberta:310-0000then780-427-3731 OutsideAlberta:780-427-3731 http://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/1224.html

ALBERTA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Workplace Health and Safety Contact Centre

Edmonton:7804158690 Toll-free:1-866-415-8690 (24hours/day,7days/week) http://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/53.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 www.wcb.ab.ca

8CONSUMER TIPS

09/12

ThisandotherconsumerpublicationsareavailableattheServiceAlbertawebsiteatwww.servicealberta.

ca.MostpubliclibrarieshaveInternetaccessifyoudonthaveaccessathome.

Ifyouneedmorecopiesofthispublication,youhavepermissiontophotocopy.

TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER ADVISORY OFFICES:

North Location

3rdFloor,CityCentre,10242-105Street Edmonton,ABT5J3L5 7806442584

South Location

6thFloor,JohnJBowlenBuilding 620-7thAvenueS.W. Calgary,ABT2P0Y8 4034764540

Temporary Foreign Worker Helpline

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

Mediation Services (collective bargaining between employers and union)

Edmonton:7804278301inEdmonton Toll-freeinAlberta:Dial3100000followedby7804278301

Immigrate to Alberta Information Service

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

Who requires a licence to operate?What fees are prohibited? What are the penalties for breaching the Fair Trading Act?Can an employment agency pay a foreign workers wages on behalf of the workers employer?What is an immigration representative?How is an immigration representative different from an employment agency?Can an employer send a foreign worker home before their work permit expires?For more information