Alberta updates temporary foreign worker services fact sheet

Alberta's Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration department updated its fact sheet on the Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office on Oct. 27, describing the free services available to foreign workers and their employers across the province.

The advisory office — known as the TFWAO — helps foreign workers, international students with work authorization and employers understand their rights and responsibilities, and can help find solutions to situations involving unfair, unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, according to the fact sheet.

Foreign workers in Alberta fill temporary labour shortages in fields including food and hospitality services, food processing, trades, health care, trucking and agriculture, the document said. The TFWAO offers telephone consultations, email support, referrals to appropriate authorities and outreach services across the province. All services are free and confidential.

The office can also refer cases to authorities where there are allegations of mistreatment, including potential signs of human trafficking, the fact sheet said.

Foreign workers in Alberta hold the same rights as any other worker in the province, the document said, and are protected under Employment Standards, Occupational Health and Safety legislation, the Human Rights Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Residential Tenancies Act and the Workers' Compensation Board.

The fact sheet also clarifies that only the Government of Canada can deport a foreign worker, that employers are not permitted to charge workers application fees, and that workers are entitled to remain in Canada until their work or study permit expires.

The TFWAO is not an enforcement agency, the document noted, and does not submit complaints to Employment Standards or any other agency on behalf of workers. It provides information and guidance only.

The office offers presentations for workers, international students with work authorization and employers, which can be arranged by emailing JETI.Outreach@gov.ab.ca. Public webinars are also available through the alberta.ca temporary foreign workers page.

The October 2026 update is the sixth version of the fact sheet since it was first published in March 2023, according to the open.alberta.ca Open Government portal, which describes the site as both a library for current publications and an archive for historic publications.

The TFWAO can be reached by phone at 1-877-944-9955 or by email at JETI.TFWAO@gov.ab.ca, Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.