Key Takeaways
- Amnesty International’s report reveals systemic abuse of migrant workers in Canada, citing unsafe conditions, wage theft, and exploitation under TFWP.
- Closed work permits tie workers to employers, fostering power imbalances, exploitation, and making it hard to leave abusive jobs.
- Reform recommendations include ending closed permits, stricter employer oversight, fair conditions, and alignment with international labor standards.
Migrant workers in Canada are grappling with widespread abuse and discrimination, according to a troubling new report from Amnesty International. The report sheds light on the exploitation faced by thousands of foreign laborers in Canada, many of whom participate in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Released on January 30, 2025, the report titled “‘Canada Has Destroyed Me’: Labour Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Canada” highlights deeply rooted issues in Canada’s immigration and labor frameworks. Based on interviews with 44 workers from 14 different countries employed in Quebec and Ontario, the findings are a harrowing account of unsafe working conditions, wage theft, physical abuse, and other grave violations.
One of the most jarring stories comes from a Cameroonian 🇨🇲 worker, Bénédicte Carole Zé. Zé arrived in Canada in 2016 under the TFWP to work on a poultry farm. She reported paying $10,000 in illegal recruitment fees for the opportunity. Instead of finding the job she had envisioned, Zé described being subjected to extreme exploitation, including working 70- to 80-hour weeks, sexual abuse, and highly restrictive living conditions. Her employer allegedly controlled nearly every aspect of her life, from withholding her bank access to preventing her from owning a cellphone. Zé even described threats of deportation if she dared to speak out about her mistreatment.
Other workers shared similarly grim experiences. Gabrielle, a worker in British Columbia 🇨🇦, suffered a severe injury after falling from a ladder while working on apple trees. She reported supervisors using racial slurs and trying to intimidate her and others into working faster, threatening to send her “back to the tree you came from.” Stories like these are not isolated incidents but reflect a deeper, systemic problem with Canada’s treatment of migrant workers.
Amnesty’s Key Findings: Abuse is Widespread and Systemic
Amnesty International’s report concludes that these abuses are not just the result of bad actors but are intertwined with systemic flaws in Canada’s TFWP. The TFWP allows Canadian employers to hire workers from other countries to fill labor shortages, particularly in agriculture and caregiving sectors. However, the program’s structure is heavily criticized for placing too much power in the hands of employers—especially through the use of “closed work permits.”
Under closed work permits, workers are tied to a single employer. This means that if a worker wants to leave a job due to abusive conditions, they risk losing their immigration status and could face deportation. Amnesty International asserts that this arrangement creates a power imbalance, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and unable to speak out without fear of retaliation.
The allegations go beyond labor violations. Amnesty International says the TFWP disproportionately targets workers from the Global South, noting that racialized workers are more likely to experience exploitation. The report specifically calls the program “inherently exploitative” and “discriminatory,” making urgent recommendations for systemic reforms. Among these changes, Amnesty International advocates for open work permits, which would allow workers to change employers freely and seek better opportunities without jeopardizing their legal status.
Government Response: Promises vs. Progress
Both Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have responded to the criticisms raised in the report. While the Canadian government acknowledges the importance of protecting temporary foreign workers, its actions have been met with mixed reactions.
The ESDC, the agency that oversees the TFWP, noted that protecting the health and safety of these workers is a priority. The ESDC has introduced measures such as stricter penalties for non-compliant employers. Between April and September 2024, the agency issued $2.1 million in fines to employers who violated labor laws, a sharp increase compared to the previous year.
For its part, the IRCC has implemented changes aimed at improving the program. Employers are now required to provide private health insurance and are prohibited from charging recruitment fees to foreign workers. Additionally, a 24/7 abuse reporting hotline has been established to ensure that temporary foreign workers can share their concerns anonymously. Despite these initiatives, the government has not committed to overhauling the program entirely, particularly the contentious closed work permits. Ongoing litigation appears to be stalling deeper reforms.
Migrant Workers Demand Urgent Change
Amnesty International is not the only organization to raise alarms about the TFWP. In July 2024, Tomoya Obokata, a United Nations special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, labeled the program a “breeding ground for contemporary slavery.” Following a visit to Canada 🇨🇦 last year, Obokata recommended an end to closed work permits and urged Canada to strengthen protections for foreign laborers. Additionally, Canadian Senate and House committees made similar recommendations to phase out employer-specific permits in 2024.
Yet, meaningful change has proven elusive. In fact, the number of vulnerable workers appears to be growing. In just the first eight months of 2024, over 2,700 open work permits were granted to vulnerable workers—a record number, according to IRCC. This trend shows that more individuals are falling through the cracks, requiring intervention after already experiencing abuse and exploitation.
While the government recently made adjustments, such as halting TFWP applications from employers in highly unemployed metropolitan areas, and removing permanent residency incentives for foreign workers, these measures have not addressed the central issues. Critics argue that such changes seem to be aimed more at managing perceptions than solving the underlying problems.
Living and Working Conditions: A ‘Slavery-Like’ System
Migrant workers under the TFWP often report deplorable living and working conditions. Amnesty International uncovered cases of unsanitary, overcrowded housing and inadequate access to clean water or sanitation facilities. Workers describe grueling schedules, lack of proper rest, and unrelenting physical demands. According to researcher Julia Sande, these working environments bear similarity to scenes in “slavery movies,” underscoring the severity of exploitation faced by these individuals.
The emotional toll of these conditions is also immense. Workers like Gabrielle noted feelings of betrayal, stress, and deep emotional trauma. Some even expressed regret about coming to Canada, with statements like “this country has destroyed me.” Amnesty International emphasizes that this level of mistreatment is simply unacceptable for a country that promotes itself as a champion for human rights on the international stage.
Recommendations for Reform
Amnesty International calls for immediate and systemic reform to protect the rights of migrant workers. Eliminating closed work permits is a key recommendation, as this step alone would grant workers more power to leave abusive employers. The organization also recommends stricter oversight of recruitment agencies and employers to prevent illegal fees, as highlighted in Bénédicte Carole Zé’s case. Moreover, better enforcement of existing labor laws and increased penalties for violations are seen as necessary steps to combat exploitation.
The report also stresses the need for Canada to align its labor practices with international law. The abuses documented by Amnesty International represent a breach of Canada’s obligations under the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which calls for fair and safe working conditions.
A Call to Action
The Amnesty International investigation into migrant workers under the TFWP paints a disturbing picture of systemic failings. The testimonies of individuals like Bénédicte Carole Zé and Gabrielle highlight the urgent need to address these abuses. VisaVerge.com’s analysis notes that the persistent shortcomings of the TFWP are a critical concern for both the Canadian government and international observers. Without substantial and systemic changes, Canada risks damaging its global reputation as a defender of human rights.
As Canada continues to depend on temporary foreign labor to meet workforce demands, it must reassess the foundations of the TFWP and implement concrete reforms. The exploitation of migrant workers is not just an individual tragedy but a blight on the country as a whole. By adopting Amnesty International’s recommendations, the Canadian government has an opportunity to make meaningful improvements and uphold its commitments to fairness, dignity, and human rights. For further details on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and its policies, you can visit the official Canadian government page on temporary foreign workers at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary.html.
The lives and dignity of countless migrant workers depend on urgent reforms. The question now rests with Canadian policymakers: Will they choose to listen?
Migrant workers in Canada endure exploitation, new Amnesty report finds. A January 30 report from Amnesty International exposes widespread abuse under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), describing unsafe conditions, wage theft, and discrimination.
Why it matters: Canada’s reliance on migrant workers to address labor shortages comes at a steep human cost. The findings highlight systemic flaws that leave workers vulnerable to abuse, with urgent calls for reform.
The big picture:
Amnesty International describes the TFWP as “inherently exploitative,” granting disproportionate power to employers through closed work permits that tie workers to specific jobs.
- Workers’ testimonies reveal shocking abuses, including sexual violence, racial slurs, illegal recruitment fees, and threats of deportation.
- The report underscores systemic flaws in Canada’s immigration and labor enforcement systems, which enable employers and recruiters to exploit vulnerabilities.
By the numbers:
– Over 2,700 open work permits for vulnerable foreign workers were issued in the first eight months of 2024—a yearly record.
– In 2024, Canada’s Employment and Social Development Department (ESDC) handed out $2.1 million in penalties to non-compliant employers, more than double the previous year during the same period.
What they’re saying:
Julia Sande of Amnesty Canada called the workers’ experiences “harrowing,” highlighting widespread denials of basic necessities such as water. Many migrant workers likened their situations to forms of modern slavery.
- The Canadian government insists it prioritizes worker safety. The Immigration Ministry stated it prohibits recruitment fees and requires private health insurance for migrants.
- However, it has not addressed calls to end tied work permits, citing ongoing litigation.
Yes, but:
Amnesty, the UN, and Canadian parliamentary committees have repeatedly called for abolishing employer-specific permits. Yet, reforms like closing job applications in high-unemployment cities and removing permanent residence incentives have barely scratched the surface of systemic abuse.
State of play:
The report aligns with a 2024 UN assessment that labeled the TFWP a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.” Both Amnesty and the UN emphasize that abuses are rooted in structural failures, not isolated misconduct.
- Amnesty recommends overhauling the TFWP and allowing migrants to work for any employer, improving mobility to escape abusive situations.
The bottom line:
Canada’s TFWP faces mounting scrutiny for enabling labor exploitation. As calls for reforms intensify, the government must balance workplace protections with labor demands to safeguard migrant workers’ dignity and rights.
Learn Today
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): A Canadian initiative allowing employers to hire foreign workers for jobs with labor shortages, often criticized for exploitation.
Closed Work Permits: Work permits restricting foreign workers to a single employer, limiting their ability to leave abusive jobs without repercussions.
Exploitation: The unfair treatment of individuals, especially in labor, to benefit others, often involving abuse, underpayment, or restricted rights.
Recruitment Fees: Illegal or excessive charges imposed by agencies or employers for job placement, commonly affecting vulnerable migrant workers.
Global South: A term referring to developing nations, often linked with economic disadvantages and higher susceptibility to labor exploitation internationally.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program faces harsh criticism for enabling systemic exploitation, including abuse, wage theft, and unsafe conditions. Amnesty International’s report calls it “inherently exploitative,” urging reforms like open work permits to empower workers. Protecting migrant workers isn’t just ethical—it’s vital to Canada’s reputation as a global human rights leader.
— By VisaVerge.com
