Question: I am about to apply for an LMO for a Food Counter Attendant but understand that the advertising requirements have changed recently. Can you tell me what I have to do to ensure I meet these new requirements?
Answer: Food Counter Attendants used to be on the Occupations Under Pressure (OUP) list which allowed for less onerous advertising requirements. However, as of January 1, 2009 the OUP list has been discontinued and ‘low skilled’ occupations, such as Food Counter Attendant, need to meet new advertising requirements.
In addition to your normal recruitment efforts for this position (for example, advertising on your own website, in a community newspaper or putting the vacancy on go2’s job board) your job needs to be advertised on the government’s job bank. Advertising must be for a minimum of 14 calendar day and take place within 3 months of you submitting your LMO application. You are also required to demonstrate to the government reasonable ongoing recruitment efforts to attract applicants from communities that traditionally face barriers to employment (Aboriginals, older workers, other disadvantaged groups). All advertisements must include the employer's name, business address and wages being offered. Be aware that even if you follow these new requirements, the government reserves the right to require alternative or additional advertising efforts, i.e. increased duration (length of time) or broader advertisement. It is unclear as to how this caveat will be applied by Service Canada. The full text of the new minimum advertising requirements can be found on the government’s website.
Although Food Counter Attendants remain on the Expedited LMO list (ELMO) and advertising efforts are not required to be submitted when a company with an approved ELMO submits their LMO application, they still need to meet the new advertising requirements and be able to produce required documentation in the event they are audited.
You can email your foreign worker program questions to plarose@go2hr.ca.
More foreign worker questions: Foreign Worker Q&A
More information on recruiting foreign workers: Recruiting > Foreign Workers
