Migrant workers across Canada are facing exploitative conditions as detailed in a new report released by Amnesty International on January 31, 2025. The organization has criticized the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for its structural flaws which leave workers vulnerable to “shocking abuse and discrimination.”
According to the report, the TFWP allows employers to hire migrant workers predominantly for low-paid jobs in various sectors, including agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality. These provisions create significant vulnerabilities due to the reliance on closed work permits, which bind workers to single employers who control both their migration status and working conditions.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, expressed deep concern over the outlined abuses. "The abuse experienced by migrant workers in Canada is deeply troubling, especially for a country claiming to be a leader when itcomes to protecting human rights," she stated. The report interviewed 44 migrant workers from 14 different countries, with many reporting experiences of unpaid wages, excessive working hours, and dangerous working environments.
Some of the interviewed workers reported having contracts with zero designated rest days. This lack of breaks has led to severe physical and mental strain for many laborers. A woman from Cameroon, identified as Bénédicte, described her harrowing experience working under these oppressive conditions. "I did not expect to be a slave here," she told researchers. Bénédicte had suffered from psychological and sexual abuse at the hands of her employer, who later canceled her work permit when she sought to leave the job, rendering her without legal residency.
Another case outlines the experience of Miguel, a Guatemalan migrant worker, who shared details about the extreme control his employer exerted over him. Miguel explained how his boss had confiscated his passport and surveilled him, stating, "I faced severe forms of control by my employer." The oppressive environment he described is not uncommon, with many others recounting similar experiences of harassment and intimidation.
Living conditions for many migrant workers also raise serious human rights concerns. Amnesty noted numerous worker testimonies indicating inadequate housing, which often lacked essentials like drinkable water. The report sheds light on the broader failings of the TFWP, arguing for urgent reforms to address these systemic issues.
Ketty Nivyabandi, from Amnesty International Canada, has called on the country's leaders to implement significant reforms to align the program with Canada’s human rights commitments. She stressed the importance of respecting the rights of workers, emphasizing the necessity for policy changes to prevent exploitation.
Responding to the report, the Canadian government acknowledged awareness of the findings. Nancy Caron, spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), stated, "The government of Canada takes the safety and dignity of temporary foreign workers very seriously and has been taking strong action to protect workers." She insisted temporary foreign workers are entitled to the same employment standards and protections as Canadian citizens.
Government efforts include initiatives aimed at enhancing worker rights, such as the introduction of open work permits, which would allow workers to change employers more freely and obtain private health insurance. These measures aim to mitigate some risks faced by temporary foreign workers under the previous structure of the TFWP.
While these initiatives show progress, activists and labor rights advocates argue they are insufficient. Given the alarming testimonies of widespread abuse and exploitation, they insist more comprehensive reforms are necessary to guarantee the wellbeing and rights of migrant workers.
With increasing scrutiny on the conditions tolerated by the TFWP, the hope is for lasting change to not only improve current practices but also restore faith among migrant workers who arrive seeking safety and opportunity, only to face shocking instances of abuse.