Canada has reversed a ban on employer applications to bring in foreign workers across eight metropolitan areas. Starting 10 July 2026, businesses in Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina, Fredericton and Saint John can once again file for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — provided they prove they have tried and failed to recruit locally.
The change marks a significant easing of immigration rules in a country grappling with labour shortages in key sectors. However, not all regions benefit. Saskatoon and Kamloops have been added to the restricted list after their unemployment rates climbed above six percent. A review of the classification for those two cities is scheduled for 10 October.
Meanwhile, processing times tell a mixed story. Standard LMIA applications for low-wage positions take on average 71 days to complete. By contrast, Global Talent Stream applications are resolved in just nine days.
Germany’s Solar Promise Fails to Deliver
While Canada moves to widen access, a high-profile labour pact between Germany and India lies in tatters. Three years after signing a memorandum of understanding intended to bring solar technicians to Germany, not a single Indian worker has been placed. The German solar sector is short of more than 100,000 skilled people. Experts point to bureaucratic accreditation hurdles for Indian qualifications, language barriers and abrupt policy changes as the main obstacles. Without harmonised recognition procedures, the cooperation is doomed to remain ineffective, they warn.
Pakistan Launches Interest-Free “Parwaz Card” for 45,000 Workers
Pakistan’s Punjab government is introducing a new financial incentive for skilled workers who have secured a firm job offer abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia. The so-called Parwaz Card is an interest-free loan covering visas, medical checks and flights. Over three years, the initiative aims to support up to 45,000 workers. Separately, the national training authority NAVTTC has called for concepts to be submitted for a formal worker-sending programme targeting the European Union, Japan and the Gulf states. The deadline for proposals is 27 July.
Vietnam Sends 4,700 Workers Abroad in Six Months
In the first half of 2026, the Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa placed more than 4,700 workers in jobs overseas. Top destinations are Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, with expansion planned to Croatia and Russia.
Regional Recruitment Efforts Pick Up
British Columbia issued 473 provincial immigration invitations on 9 July, focusing on construction, healthcare and education professionals. In New Brunswick, guides have been published for companies looking to recruit international tradespeople in plumbing, electrical work and welding.
Two urgent calls have also gone out for specific trades: Taiwan is seeking welders for manufacturing, with applications due by 13 July, while New Zealand needs sheet-metal workers with at least five years’ experience for industrial insulation and cladding jobs.
