Overcoming Labour Shortages: The Temporary Migrant Worker Program in Canada
The Issue
Over the past decades, Canada has encouraged international mobility and the use of temporary migrant workers to overcome quantitative and qualitative labour shortages. However, the country was put on the spot last year by a United Nations Special Rapporteur who provided unfavourable findings regarding certain work and employment management practices that placed these workers in a highly vulnerable position.
The Program
The temporary foreign workers (TFW) program governs the arrival, stay, and working conditions of migrant workers in Canada. Under this program, employers are required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before hiring a foreign worker. The LMIA ensures that the employer has made reasonable efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job.
The Criticism
The United Nations Special Rapporteur’s criticism lies with the employer-specific work permit, which he believes constitutes a breeding ground for modern slavery. The rapporteur argues that the program creates a power imbalance between employers and workers, making it difficult for workers to negotiate fair wages and working conditions.
The Response
In response to the criticism, the Quebec government has tightened rules and criteria to reduce the use of temporary migrant workers. However, some labour market actors have expressed concerns that this move may exacerbate labour shortages and make it more difficult for employers to access the labour they need.
The Impact on Workers
Migrant workers settling in Canada through work-related migration pathways face varied realities and cannot be seen as a homogenous population. While they are mostly classified as skilled and non-skilled labourers, within these two groups, we find differentiated sub-categories. Workers face issues such as francisation, adaptation to employment conditions, health and safety problems, psychological abuse, exploitation, discrimination, and racism.
The Need for Change
To overcome the challenges faced by temporary migrant workers, there is a need to address the fundamental problem facing businesses, which is to rely on a production model that has great difficulty recruiting Canadian workers. The abolition of the closed permit could certainly reduce the vulnerability of TFWs to abuse and exploitation. However, it would not address the fundamental problem of relying on a flexible migrant workforce.
Conclusion
The temporary migrant worker program in Canada has been criticized for creating a power imbalance between employers and workers, leading to exploitation and abuse. To overcome the challenges faced by temporary migrant workers, there is a need to address the fundamental problem facing businesses and to ensure that workers are treated fairly and with dignity.
FAQs
Q: What is the temporary foreign workers (TFW) program?
A: The TFW program governs the arrival, stay, and working conditions of migrant workers in Canada.
Q: What is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?
A: The LMIA is a requirement for employers to obtain before hiring a foreign worker. It ensures that the employer has made reasonable efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job.
Q: What are the concerns regarding the employer-specific work permit?
A: The employer-specific work permit has been criticized for creating a power imbalance between employers and workers, making it difficult for workers to negotiate fair wages and working conditions.
Q: What are the issues faced by temporary migrant workers in Canada?
A: Migrant workers in Canada face issues such as francisation, adaptation to employment conditions, health and safety problems, psychological abuse, exploitation, discrimination, and racism.
Q: What is the solution to the challenges faced by temporary migrant workers?
A: The solution lies in addressing the fundamental problem facing businesses and ensuring that workers are treated fairly and with dignity.
