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- Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Programme faces criticism for allegedly enabling exploitation and abuse of migrant workers
Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Programme faces criticism for allegedly enabling exploitation and abuse of migrant workers
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Amnesty International has criticized Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), highlighting the vulnerability of laborers to exploitation and abuse. The program allows employers to hire migrant workers for low-paid jobs, with some provisions deemed "harmful" by the organization. The rights group has specifically called for an end to "closed" work permits, which tie workers to their employers and leave them susceptible to exploitation.
The government of Canada takes the safety and dignity of temporary foreign workers very seriously and has been taking strong action to protect workers.
While in Canada, temporary foreign workers have the same employment standards, rights, and protections under federal, provincial, and territorial law as do Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Exploitation, discrimination and abuse are integral features, not bugs, of the Temporary Foreign Worker program.
Cosmetic changes are not enough. Our leaders must implement the reforms required to bring the program in line with Canada's human rights obligations – and, ultimately, to respect the rights of workers.
Every year, thousands of people from around the world leave their homes and their families to carry out essential jobs in Canada.
Rather than receiving a warm welcome, some are met with unsafe working conditions, racist intimidation and threats, sexual harassment and physical violence. We applaud the 44 workers who courageously shared their stories with us, and we thank them for their efforts to expose appalling human rights abuses taking place in our own backyard.
The abuse experienced by migrant workers in Canada is deeply troubling, especially for a country that claims to be a leader when it comes to protecting human rights.
Many migrant workers have told us they came to Canada hoping to secure a better future, yet instead, they felt they were treated like slaves. These workers are vital for putting food on the country's tables and caring for the elderly. They deserve much better.
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sources
perspectives
countries
organizations
- 1.Amnesty International
- 2.Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- 3.Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada
- 4.Employment and Social Development Canada
- 5.United Nations