Do Temp Agencies Charge Workers a Fee? What Ontario Law Says

No. In Ontario, a temporary help agency cannot charge you a fee to register, to find you work or for help with things like your resume. The Employment Standards Act prohibits it. A legitimate agency is paid by the employers it supplies workers to, not by the people looking for jobs. If anyone asks you to pay for a job or for a place on a list, treat it as a warning sign.

This guide explains how agencies are paid, what a fee request looks like, what is and is not a normal cost for a worker and where to get help.

How do temp agencies make money if workers do not pay?

The client business pays the agency an hourly rate for each worker. That rate covers the worker’s wage, the employer-side costs of employing them, such as CPP, EI, vacation pay and WSIB, and the agency’s own costs and margin. The worker never pays any part of it. You can read the details in how much staffing agencies charge employers in Canada.

What an agency cannot charge you for

• Registering with the agency or joining its list
• Finding you work or placing you on an assignment
• Help with your resume or interview preparation

That applies whether the fee is called a registration fee, an admin fee, a processing fee, a training fee or a deposit.

Warning signs of a fee scam

• Someone asks you to send money by e-transfer, cash or a gift card to get a job interview, a job offer or an assignment
• The agency promises a guaranteed job if you pay
• The “employer” cannot be named, or the job details are vague
• You are pressured to pay immediately, or told the opening will disappear
• A person offers a work permit or a job offer letter in exchange for payment

The last point matters especially for newcomers. In Canada, employers are not allowed to charge workers for the costs of getting a work offer or a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). If someone asks you to pay for one, do not pay.

What costs are normal for a worker?

Some costs are normal, and they never go to the agency. Examples are your own transit to the site, steel toe safety boots that many warehouses and plants require, and a training certificate you choose to take, such as forklift or WHMIS training, from a training provider you pick. If an agency tells you to buy something from the agency itself, ask why, and do not pay if you are unsure.

What should you do if you have been asked to pay?

1. Do not pay. Say you will check first.
2. Ask for the details in writing: the agency’s name, the employer, the pay rate and the hours.
3. Keep every message, receipt and e-transfer record.
4. If you already paid, contact your bank straight away and report it to the police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
5. Report the fee to the Ministry of Labour. You can start from the Employment Standards guide on ontario.ca.

How Supreme Employment works

We are paid by employers, never by job seekers. Registering with us, being placed in a job and getting help with your resume are all free. If you want to see what is open, check jobs in Toronto, jobs in Brampton or jobs in Mississauga, or submit your resume. A recruiter calls you when a job matches.

Common questions

Are employment agencies free?

For job seekers in Ontario, a temp agency should be free. Employers pay the agency.

Do employment agencies charge a fee to find you a job?

A temporary help agency cannot charge you for that. If an agency asks, do not pay and read the warning signs above.

Can an agency make me pay for training?

You may choose to take a course such as forklift or WHMIS from a provider you pick, and that fee goes to the provider. An agency cannot charge you a fee as a condition of getting work.

Is it worth using a temp agency at all?

For many people, yes. Read is it worth going through a temp agency for the pros and cons, or what is a temp agency if you are new to the idea.