Quebec Mandates French Proficiency for Foreign Workers, Reshaping Labor Landscape

The government of François Legault tabled a draft regulation on Thursday to require a minimum knowledge of French for temporary workers. The measure had been announced by the Minister of the Economy, Christine Fréchette, who was then in charge of Immigration. At a press conference on November 1, 2023, she had stated that she would require migrants benefiting from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to provide proof of level 4 French proficiency in oral communication when renewing their work permit.

According to her, this level of French proficiency required is intended to ensure the migrant’s ability to "discuss with [their] entourage" on "familiar subjects". For the Quebec authorities, experience has shown that migrants with this level of French understand "the general meaning of short conversations related to common activities or situations". This is probably why the Legault government has tabled this draft regulation that imposes level 4 French proficiency for TFWP participants, with the exception of employees in the "primary agriculture" sector, reports Le Devoir.

The entry into force of this regulation is scheduled for this fall, but the measure will only be imposed from 2028, it is specified, noting that the text has provided for a three-year transitional period, equal to the maximum duration of a work permit. The government says it is aware that these "modifications [...] could have an indirect impact on the competitiveness of businesses in Quebec".

"As other Canadian provinces do not impose language requirements on temporary foreign workers, those who want to, after a three-year stay, take up jobs in Quebec companies will have an additional requirement to meet," said Jean-François Roberge, the current Minister of Immigration, specifying that "on the other hand, a better knowledge of French would promote the integration of workers in the workplace and in life, thus helping to fill vacant positions on a sustainable basis while supporting economic activity in Quebec".