October 7, 2017 will mark the 10th anniversary of the World Day for Decent Work, a day when unions around the world unite in action for decent work. What is “decent work”? Access for all workers to quality jobs, dignity, equality, and safe working conditions. Putting workers at the centre of development and giving them a voice in what they do.…
Canada’s unions release migrant worker video to mark Human Rights Day
December 9, 2016
To mark Human Rights Day, Canada’s unions released a new video to raise awareness of the human rights issues faced by migrant workers in our country. The video tells the story of an agricultural worker who must leave her home and family behind to work long hours in isolated and dangerous conditions – a situation faced by many migrants entering…
Committee recommendations fall short for migrant workers
September 23, 2016
On September 19 the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) tabled their report on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Overall, HUMA released a pro-business, pro-employer report with few positive concrete recommendations for Canadian and migrant workers. “This report recommends expanding the temporary foreign worker program, and making it…
Don’t touch it if you can’t fix it – Live-in Caregiver Program
July 6, 2015
Late last year, the government announced they were going to make some changes to the Caregiver Program that is part of the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program. They added a mix of lower-skilled and higher-skilled categories for workers: Caregivers for children under 18 years of age that has lower skilled positions such as babysitters, nannies, and parent’s helpers. Caregivers for…
International Domestic Workers Day, June 16, celebrates the 2011 passage of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 189 for Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The Canadian Labour Congress joined with global unions and domestic workers from around the world to champion this international law for domestic workers. The Convention represented an historic step forward towards domestic work being recognized as work…
They come to Canada to fill jobs that employers cannot find Canadians to fill, they work, pay taxes, contribute to CPP and they put back into the local economy. These are Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW). The TFW program has existed for years. But now the government has announced it will impose a four year limit on the cumulative duration…
On December 18, we join with migrant workers and their families in Canada and around the world, in observing International Migrants Day. On this day, we again call on the federal government to eliminate this country’s legalized discrimination against migrant workers—because all workers have a right to fair and safe working conditions, and all workers’ basic human rights must be…
Labour Mobility in Canada: Issues and Policy Recommendations
December 8, 2014
Executive Summary Labour mobility refers to the free movement of workers between provinces, regions, or countries. When labour mobility between two jurisdictions is high, a worker in one can easily cross the border to deliver services in the other. High labour mobility is economically efficient, because workers can move to where they are most needed. However, there are many barriers…
The Government of Canada should be improving access to permanent residency for migrant caregivers instead of restricting it
November 20, 2014
“The federal government must stop toying with migrant workers’ hopes and dreams, and extend permanent residency on arrival to newcomers arriving to do caring work in Canada,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Right now, Live-in Caregivers have to put up with low wages, isolation, and sometimes dangerous working conditions for 2 years before they can apply…
Today’s announcement regarding the Temporary Foreign Worker program is the latest rescue mission for a program that is deeply flawed and needs to be replaced, not saved. It’s time to put the focus on long-term solutions for meeting Canada’s skilled labour needs and phase out the parts of this program that are being abused – in particular the low-skills, low-wage…