Protection of temporary foreign workers: the case of Filipinos in Canada

Abstract

Temporary foreign workers have been employed – or simply used – throughout history. Their plights have gained some attention across the globe in recent decades. Canada as a major receiving country of these workers and the Philippines as a prolific sending country of workers are selected as case studies to examine whether measures taken internationally, nationally and locally are adequate to protect these workers, especially those in low-skilled occupations. Based on prior research on the workers’ well-being, the answer is no in at least five areas: recruitment, matching of qualifications, abuse, housing, and family separation. Suggestions are made to address these specific areas. In addition, it is argued that, in order to protect the workers, civil society should also be involved and expanded rights should be given to the workers.

Band-Aid on a Bullet Wound—Canada’s Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers Policy

“…The number of migrant workers 1 admitted into Canada has expanded rapidly in recent years, with many sectors relying on them as a source of permanent labour supply (Lu 2020;Zhang et al 2021;Foster 2012, p. 19;Falconer 2020). Workers coming through the "lowwage" stream are issued work permits that are systematically linked to a specific employer and occupation and require employer endorsement to be renewed.…”