Prince Edward Island will enact legislation making it illegal for recruiters to charge foreign workers for the opportunity to work on the Island, says the minister responsible for immigration.

Richard Brown says changes could come as early as this fall. (CBC)

The practice is already illegal in some provinces, and Richard Brown told CBC News on Wednesday that will soon be the case on the Island as well.

"We've all heard the stories where the recruiter charges the business and then charges the immigrant," said Brown.

"That's double dipping to me. That shouldn't be allowed and will not be allowed on Prince Edward Island."

Brown said his department is examining a bill passed this spring in Manitoba that is designed to protect foreign workers from being exploited by third-party recruiters by prohibiting the recruiters from charging the workers.

Out West, some workers have been paying thousands of dollars to come to Canada. On P.E.I., some Russian workers at the Ocean Choice plant in Souris paid a recruiter in Russia more than $500 each.

Brown said with employers on P.E.I. and across the country turning more to foreign labour, P.E.I. has to make a good impression on workers to ensure they stick around.

"There is a shortage of skilled labour; there is a shortage of workers in Canada," said Brown.

"For some areas of expertise in Prince Edward Island, we need immigration to fill those gaps."

P.E.I. is considering following Manitoba's lead and enacting its own worker recruitment and protection act or it could change the existing Labour Standards Act.

Either way, the changes could come as early as this fall.