Amnesty International Exposes Abuse and Discrimination of Migrant Workers in Canada
Amnesty report highlights troubling conditions faced by workers under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
A report published by Amnesty International on Thursday has revealed widespread abuse and discrimination faced by migrant workers in Canada under the country's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The report criticizes the TFWP, which allows employers to hire migrant workers for low-paid jobs in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality, describing it as fostering vulnerability to exploitation due to provisions like closed work permits, which tie workers to a single employer.
Amnesty interviewed 44 migrant workers from 14 countries, mainly from the Global South, with most reporting unpaid wages, excessive working hours, and unsafe working conditions.
Some workers reported being forced to work without rest days, while others faced discrimination, including being assigned to the most physically demanding tasks.
The report also highlights several cases of severe mistreatment, including a woman from Cameroon who was subjected to racist psychological and sexual abuse by her employer.
In another case, a Guatemalan worker described being surveilled and threatened by his employer, who confiscated his passport and monitored his living and working spaces with cameras.
Amnesty also pointed to poor living conditions, with some workers reporting inadequate housing and lack of access to drinking water.
In response to the findings, Amnesty International called on Canadian leaders to reform the TFWP to align it with the country’s human rights obligations.
The Canadian government, in a statement to CNN, acknowledged the report and emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the rights of temporary foreign workers, including implementing measures such as open work permits and providing resources for workers to report abuses.
The report criticizes the TFWP, which allows employers to hire migrant workers for low-paid jobs in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and hospitality, describing it as fostering vulnerability to exploitation due to provisions like closed work permits, which tie workers to a single employer.
Amnesty interviewed 44 migrant workers from 14 countries, mainly from the Global South, with most reporting unpaid wages, excessive working hours, and unsafe working conditions.
Some workers reported being forced to work without rest days, while others faced discrimination, including being assigned to the most physically demanding tasks.
The report also highlights several cases of severe mistreatment, including a woman from Cameroon who was subjected to racist psychological and sexual abuse by her employer.
In another case, a Guatemalan worker described being surveilled and threatened by his employer, who confiscated his passport and monitored his living and working spaces with cameras.
Amnesty also pointed to poor living conditions, with some workers reporting inadequate housing and lack of access to drinking water.
In response to the findings, Amnesty International called on Canadian leaders to reform the TFWP to align it with the country’s human rights obligations.
The Canadian government, in a statement to CNN, acknowledged the report and emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the rights of temporary foreign workers, including implementing measures such as open work permits and providing resources for workers to report abuses.
