CLC Statement on International Temporary Workers

There are almost 100,000 workers on temporary permits in Canada. Many are workers of colour who are employed in low wage jobs and are highly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation because of racism, lack of citizenship rights, and exclusion from labour laws.

The CLC must defend the rights of international temporary workers, and ensure that temporary worker programs are part of a process of proper labour market planning which serves the needs of all workers, including unemployed and under-employed workers and recent immigrants whose skills and credentials are under-utilized.

Domestic workers on temporary permits are especially vulnerable to abuse since continued residency in Canada is tied to continued employment with a single employer. Farm workers in Ontario are prohibited from engaging in collective bargaining in violation of their right to freedom of association.

The Manitoba Government announced in its Throne Speech on October 27 that it will be making changes to the Employment Standards Code in the current session. Among the many changes the MFL would like to see, are amendments to cover agricultural and domestic workers under the Code. A number of these workers are temporary.

Read the full CLC Statement on International Temporary Workers in PDF format.