Changes to migrant workers program; Unfair Reduction of migrant workers pay: Wrong

Changes to migrant workers program; Unfair Reduction of migrant workers pay: Wrong

A UFCW Canada Human Rights Department Release

OTTAWA — The Canadian Labour movement and non-government organizations (NGOs) say that recently announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) permitting employers to pay migrant workers up to 15% less and fast tracking employer applications for these workers is unfair and misguided.

“Allowing employers faster access to migrant workers and paying them less for their labour sends a message that this government believes migrant workers are not equal,” says Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Yussuff was speaking in an Ottawa news conference which was attended by several labour unions and NGOs.

Ottawa has announced changes, effective immediately, to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and has included those changes in a large omnibus budget bill that is being pushed by the government through Parliament.

“Canada’s laws don’t support wage discrimination based on where you come from,” says Connie Sorio with Migrante Canada. “Many people recognize the majority of migrant workers are people of colour and oppose wage discrimination based on race.”

“Paying workers less because of their temporary status is discriminatory and unfair. These new rules will institutionalize exploitation,” says Heather Neufeld, Immigrant Rights advocate with the Canadian Council for Refugees

Naveen Mehta, General Counsel and Director of Human Rights with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada says, “Rather than further skewing Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program to unfairly serve employer’s interest, what is needed are stronger compliance, monitoring and enforcement measures to protect migrant workers’ rights.”

Alfredo Barahona, Migrant and Indigenous Rights Program Coordinator with KAIROS Canada adds, “Instead of focusing on filling long-term labour needs with short-term workers who don’t enjoy the same rights and protections as other workers, Canada should be nation-building by bringing in workers as permanent residents.”

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils.

(PRESS RELEASE)