Press release: Trudeau’s announced reduction in number of migrant workers ignores abuse concerns
VIDEO: Stacey Gomez, Executive Director of the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia speaks to Global News
Halifax, NS (August 26, 2024) – Today, the Government of Canada announced a reduction in the number of low-wage migrant workers, also known as Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW), who will be able to work in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is currently in Halifax for the Liberal cabinet retreat, spoke to reporters about the announcement this morning.
“Given current labour market conditions, and to further reduce the reliance of Canadian employers on the [TFW] Program, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced today that the Government is taking further action to weed out TFW Program misuse and fraud,” reads an excerpt of the press release.
The following changes to the TFW Program will be implemented, effective by September 26, 2024:
The Government of Canada will not process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in the Low-Wage stream in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher;
Employers will be allowed to hire no more than 10% of their total workforce through the Low-Wage stream;
The maximum duration of employment for workers hired through the Low-Wage stream will be reduced to one year (from two years).
The press release indicates that some exceptions will be granted for the primary agriculture, food processing and fish processing, as well as construction and healthcare sectors.
This announcement comes on the heels of a scathing report from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery Tomoya Obokata.
“Canada should end labour migration arrangements that foster exploitation by creating dependency situations that tie workers to their employers and give employers control [over] worker’s housing, health care and migration status. The Special Rapporteur retains the view that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalizes asymmetries of power that favour employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights,” reads an excerpt from the report.
The report included recommendations such as the following: ending the use of closed work permits which tie migrant workers to a specific employer; a clear pathway to permanent residency upon arrival for migrant workers; and ensuring that all migrant workers have equitable access to health care from the time of their arrival, without discrimination or interjurisdictional inequities.
“Today’s announcement doesn’t do anything to address the systemic exploitation of migrant workers through the TFW Program, which will continue to persist regardless of the number of migrant workers entering the country, unless action is taken to root it out. A key recommendation of the UN report is permanent residence on arrival, which was not mentioned in the announcement. We are concerned about the impact of these abrupt changes and ongoing government inaction on the lives of migrant workers,” said Stacey Gomez, Executive Director of the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia.
According an analysis by the Government of Nova Scotia, 2,909 Temporary Foreign Workers were employed in the province’s agricultural industries, as well as food and beverage manufacturing in 2023.
