Key takeaways from the articles:

• Amnesty International's report criticizes Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for systemic abuse and discrimination.
• Many migrant workers are tied to single employers via closed work permits, making them vulnerable to exploitation.
• The report details extensive violations, including unpaid wages, excessive work hours, and unsafe working conditions.
• Amnesty urges immediate reforms to align the TFWP with Canada’s human rights obligations.
• Canadian officials state they are taking steps to protect the rights of temporary foreign workers amidst ongoing criticism.

Migrant workers in Canada face systemic abuse and discrimination while employed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), according to a new report by Amnesty International. The organization emphasizes that the current structure of the TFWP subjects laborers to dangerous conditions, providing them with limited recourse against their employers due to the restrictive nature of closed work permits, which bind them to a single employer and pose numerous risks, including wage theft, excessive working hours, and physical abuse. The report was based on interviews with 44 workers from 14 countries, primarily from the Global South, many of whom recounted heartbreaking tales of exploitation.

Specifically, the report indicates that abuses have been prevalent in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality, where many migrant workers are employed in low-wage positions. “Exploitation, discrimination, and abuse are integral features, not bugs, of the Temporary Foreign Worker program,” stated Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section. The organization calls for urgent reforms to address these systemic issues and to replace closed work permits with open permits, enabling workers to change employers and protect their rights more effectively.

Many workers interviewed described living under brutal conditions—some reported being underpaid and overworked, with contracts that provided no time for rest or recovery. Several individuals faced harsh treatment from employers, including verbal and physical abuse, lack of access to basic needs like water, and unsafe working environments that led to serious injuries and health problems. Bénédicte, a migrant worker from Cameroon, recounted her experience of psychological and sexual abuse on a farm, describing her situation as “like being a slave.”

Amnesty International's report identified the TFWP as a significant factor contributing to a cycle of exploitation, particularly affecting workers from racialized and low-income backgrounds. “The reality is that labor exploitation is a foreseeable and systemic result of closed work permits,” the report explained. This issue has gained heightened attention as Canada contemplates changes to its immigration policies amid rising labor demands and public scrutiny over treatment of foreign workers.

In response to the report, the Canadian government, through spokespeople from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), claimed that it takes the safety and rights of migrant workers seriously. They mentioned ongoing actions to ensure that temporary foreign workers receive the same employment rights as Canadian citizens. Despite these assurances, labor advocates and rights organizations insist that significant structural changes are needed to prevent ongoing exploitation and discrimination faced by vulnerable migrant workers in Canada. As outlined in the report, lasting solutions must transcend cosmetic fixes, calling on the government to implement systemic changes that will genuinely protect the rights and dignity of those who contribute significantly to the country's economy.

For more information, you can read the complete findings in the Amnesty report.