Consultation on New Foreign Worker Employer Registry and Administrative Penalties

The Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act is being implemented in phases to strengthen protections for foreign nationals working in Prince Edward Island. 

On April 1, 2025, the Province implemented Phase 1 of the Act, bringing key provisions of the Act into force and establishing new rights and protections for foreign workers in Prince Edward Island. This phase included a licensing requirement for recruiters involved in recruiting foreign nationals for employment in the province, helping to increase oversight and accountability within the foreign worker recruitment industry. 

The Province is now moving forward with Phase 2 of the Act, which will bring into force the employer registration and administrative penalty provisions. 

To support implementation of these measures, the Province is conducting consultations on draft regulations associated with this next phase of the legislation. Following consultation and regulatory approval, the Province will establish a new employer registry and introduce administrative penalties for non-compliance with the Act. 

Employers who hire foreign nationals in Prince Edward Island will soon be required to obtain a certificate of registration, unless exempt under the Act. Previous consultations were conducted during the development of the legislation, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in Spring 2022. The current consultation focuses on the proposed regulations needed to implement these new requirements. 

Proposed Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Regulations 

A draft version of the proposed regulations can be found here. 

Under the proposed regulations, employers intending to hire foreign nationals will be required to register with the Province. The registry will be publicly accessible and will assist the Province in identifying employers who hire foreign nationals, as well as determining whether employers use licensed foreign worker recruiters. 

Employers will be required to provide information relating to both their business and the employment of foreign nationals, including: 

• employer contact information; 
• whether the employer recruits foreign nationals directly or uses the services of a foreign worker recruiter; 
• the type of position or occupation to be filled, according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC); 
• educational and language requirements for the position; 
• wage rates and benefits offered; 
• the number of foreign nationals employed by the employer; and 
• whether efforts were made to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the position. 

Administrative Penalties 

The proposed regulations would also establish an administrative penalty framework to promote compliance with the Act. 

Individuals or organizations found to be in contravention of the Act may be subject to administrative penalties ranging from $500.00 to $3,000.00, depending on the nature and severity of the violation. Where a person commits a subsequent contravention within a three-year period, the applicable penalty would be doubled. 

These measures are intended to encourage compliance with the Act and help ensure that foreign nationals working in Prince Edward Island are treated fairly and in accordance with provincial law. 

Feedback 

Feedback on the proposed Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Regulations may be submitted by email to labourrelations@gov.pe.ca by September 17, 2026.