UN report slams Canadas temporary foreign worker program as ‘breeding ground’ for modern slavery

A latest UN report revealed that Canada‘s short-term overseas employee program “serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.”

The report on “contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences” by UN’s Special Rapporteur Tomoya Obokata criticized Canada’s dealing with of susceptible employees and its “colonial legacy” impact on marginalized teams.

“Canada risks failing to live up to its reputation as a global champion of human rights if it does not act more decisively to reform laws and policies that enable the exploitation of vulnerable workers and fail to provide adequate remedy and rehabilitation to victims of exploitation and abuse,” mentioned the report, whereas encouraging stronger legal guidelines.

Urging Canada to deal with the underlying causes of contemporary slavery, the report referred to as on Canada to “do more to address the systematic, intersecting forms of discrimination those groups continue to face.”

Obokata mentioned, “The Temporary Foreign Worker Program serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalizes asymmetries of power that favor employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights.”

It famous overseas employees’ problem in accessing well being care, and mentioned: “Despite new regulations, some employers reportedly prevent workers from seeking health care, encouraging them to take painkillers or home remedies instead.”

Some employees are denied day without work to hunt medical care or “fired for doing so.”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Communication Advisor Jeffrey MacDonald reaffirmed to Anadolu on Wednesday Canada’s dedication to safeguarding the rights and dignity of overseas employees.

“Everyone deserves a safe workplace where their rights are respected. We take the safety and dignity of foreign workers seriously,” mentioned MacDonald.

He mentioned that “a foreign worker with an employer-specific work permit can apply for an open work permit if they are being mistreated by their current employer” since June 2019.

“The open work permit allows them to get out of these situations quickly and look for new jobs with another employer,” MacDonald added.

The report, nevertheless, mentioned the open work allow choice “does not provide an effective solution.”

“While they can technically apply after having left their employers, their employer-specific work permits must remain valid. This is problematic as employers are likely to fire workers for prolonged absence, which can lead to the cancellation of their work permits and few workers have the means to live independently,” in keeping with the report.

MacDonald outlined pathways to everlasting residency for overseas employees, together with the Agri-Food Pilot which seeks to deal with labor wants within the Canadian agri-food sector, and the Provincial Nominee Program which attracts employees who’ve expertise, schooling and expertise and wish to reside in a territory or province in Canada.