Advocates say proposed changes to federal foreign worker program are all wrong

A migrant worker advocacy group is saying a federal proposal, which may see $12,000 slashed from their annual pay, is focusing on the wrong priorities.

The group says that improving working and living conditions are also a top priority for the workers as well as their pay.

“One worker told us ‘I sleep eight to a room with no locks – we have to pee in bottles at night, it’s hotter than an oven’,” said Syed Hussan with the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC).

The federal government allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill seasonal jobs when qualified Canadians are not available.

This temporary foreign worker program is set to be overhauled, but those who advocate for these workers say these federal proposals are all wrong.

“What they are proposing is to keep the work permits tied to the sector, and only allow workers to change jobs if there is an available MIA (Market Impact Assessment), and most never happen,” said Hussan.

The MWAC surveyed over 500 migrant workers in Canada, and the overwhelming desire is permanent status upon arrival, to grant them the same rights as Canadians.

“While I was working, I faced verbal abuse from supervisors, coworkers and even company bus drivers,” said Gina Lopez, someone who used to work at a fishery, “so on many occasions I was told I need to get used to it, to be yelled at because that’s how things happen there.”

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The other main concern is horrible living conditions.

CHCH News received photos provided from MWAC, which depicted the current homes of migrant workers provided to them by their bosses.

“People don’t have clean drinking water, they’re sharing four stoves among 20 to 30 people, which means they need to wake up two, three, four hours earlier in the morning, simply to make their own food,” said Hussan.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is still evaluating the federal proposals.

A statement from the association said in part, “we’ve been actively working with our members and national partners to share our feedback… including on proposals around deductions and work permits. We anticipate additional consultation and engagement.”

The association did not provide comment on living conditions.

They did say they remain committed to ensuring growers maintain access to the labour needed to grow fruits and vegetables.

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