Migrant Workers Reject Federal “Cosmetic” Reforms that Maintain Modern Slavery Conditions
by Migrant Rights Network
Migrant organizations unveiled a comprehensive new report involving 514 migrant workers across Canada that reveals federal government proposals to “improve” temporary foreign worker programs will actually worsen conditions for vulnerable workers. The federal proposals come on the anniversary of UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Professor Tomoya Obokata’s finding that Canada’s temporary migration programs are “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalizes asymmetries of power that favour employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights” and his call for permanent residency for all migrant workers. The federal government created their reform plan in response to this criticism, but their proposed changes maintain the fundamental power imbalances that enable exploitation.
“Instead of fixing the root cause of migrant exploitation by granting permanent resident status, the federal government is putting forward changes that will let employers steal more than $15,000 a year from hundreds of thousands of workers— that’s well over $1 billion taken from some of the poorest people in Canada. These aren’t reforms; they’re a capitulation to the agribusiness lobby, which gets to rob wages from food workers while jacking up food prices and pocketing profits at both ends,” said Syed Hussan, Executive Director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The report released today by the Migrant Rights Network, “Controls Not Protection: New Federal Proposals Set to Worsen Migrant Worker Crisis,” presents the voices of 514 migrant workers – 322 survey respondents and 192 focus group participants with an average of 6.2 years’ experience in Canadian temporary foreign worker programs. The findings reveal that workers overwhelmingly reject Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) proposed changes, which would legalize new wage deductions of up to $1,307 per month ($15,600 annually) while keeping workers tied to employers and without improving their housing. Migrant workers are clear in their demand for real changes starting with permanent resident status for all.
“Status means safety. The changes that the Canadian government is bringing forward will not protect workers, because anything less than permanent status is not proper protection,” said Gabriel, a migrant farm worker from St. Vincent who has worked 8 years in Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) in the wine grape industry. Gabriel, who works 50-60 hours per week mixing dangerous chemicals often without proper protective equipment, described how employer control prevents workers from speaking up about unsafe conditions. “I didn’t complain because the hands of our liaison officers are in the bosses’ mouth. They are supposed to represent us, but they only protect the money and the program. If I say I feel unsafe, the first thing they do is go to the boss and say I’m not qualified. Then I’m off the program and can no longer support my family.”
Government Proposals Maintain Employer Control
The report reveals that 93% of migrant workers say tied work permits make it harder to assert their rights, with 49% saying tied permits “completely” undermine their ability to protect themselves. An overwhelming 81.25% of workers demand immediate permanent resident status on arrival.
Instead of ending tied work permits which created conditions of indentureship, the federal government is proposing “stream-specific” permits that 95% of workers recognize as maintaining the same employer control. The UN Special Rapporteur specifically rejected these types of permits, insisting that “shifting from employer-specific to sector-specific work permits is, on its own, unlikely to significantly improve conditions for workers.”
“They say it’s to help us change jobs, but the reality is the same control—boss signs off or I’m out,” said a former fishery worker from Mexico interviewed for the report.
Workers explain that employers rarely have unfilled labour market impact assessments, don’t advertise vacant positions and routinely blacklist anyone who asserts their rights, making real labour mobility virtually impossible under the proposed system.
Bad Housing Made Worse
The government is proposing to abandon specific housing standards developed in 2020 that had not yet been implemented. Instead of measurable requirements, the proposed new “guidelines” are vague and unenforceable, relying on subjective terms like “adequate” and “reasonable” that would give employers complete discretion over housing conditions.
“I sleep eight to a room with no locks. We have to pee in bottles at night. It’s hotter than an oven,” said a temporary foreign worker and mushroom harvester from Mexico with 7 years in the program.
The report found 66% of workers describe their housing as poor or very bad, while only 24% said it was “okay” and just 10% said it was good. The top housing problems include: no privacy (66.29%), insufficient kitchens and bathrooms (52.59%), overcrowding (40.19%), and dirty conditions (39.8%). Despite these terrible conditions, 66.9% of workers said they are afraid to complain about housing due to employer retaliation. Only 12% requested inspections, and 75% of workers at farms where inspections actually took place saw no improvements. Workers are trapped in employer-controlled housing with no access to local transportation for basic needs like groceries, healthcare, or social activities.
Financial Exploitation Continues
Despite working grueling hours, 83.55% of migrant workers report wages are insufficient to support themselves and families. Workers pay median travel costs of $880 per trip despite employer obligations to cover travel, and face constant deductions that erode any wage increases.
Adding insult to injury, the government’s housing proposals would allow employers to charge workers up to 30% of wages for housing without any improvement to substandard conditions—potentially $1,307 monthly in total deductions, over $15,000 per year. Yet 65% of workers demand housing remain free, rejecting increased deductions for conditions they describe as inhumane.
“Whenever wages go up, the boss finds a way to take away the raise through deductions,” said a temporary foreign worker in poultry processing in Leamington with 5 seasons of experience.
Healthcare Denied
A staggering 37.5% of workers report employer interference with healthcare access, with 7.24% reporting having been denied care over 10 times. The barriers are extensive: 19.85% never received health cards for public coverage, and 15.44% were unable to get transportation to healthcare.
“My boss approved or cancelled my appointments—if I pressed it, I’d lose hours,” reported a temporary foreign worker in poultry processing in Ontario with 6 seasons of experience.
The government’s healthcare proposals continue to rely on employer “encouragement” rather than giving workers direct access to care.
Workers Demand Real Change
Instead of cosmetic changes, migrant workers are demanding:
Permanent residency upon arrival with no exemptions or delays
Elimination of all tied work permits
Zero deductions for housing
Minimum wage of $20-25/hour with guaranteed 40 hours weekly
Immediate healthcare access without employer interference
Full employer payment of all transportation costs and access to local transportation
The Migrant Rights Network is calling on the federal government to abandon the proposed changes and implement workers’ demands for permanent residency, decent work conditions, and human dignity. With 81.25% of workers demanding immediate permanent residency, this represents not just an advocacy position but what workers themselves overwhelmingly want.
“For every glass of wine you drink, remember the workers who left our families and are being stifled and caged up in unsafe environments. We are killing ourselves for low wages without being fully protected,” Gabriel said. “We want the government to grant us permanent status on arrival with no exemptions and no delay.”