A recent report by UN special rapporteur Tomoya Obokata has highlighted the exploitation and abuse faced by temporary foreign workers in Canada. The report describes the program as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, with workers facing deep power imbalances and discriminatory practices that lead to debt bondage, wage theft, and hazardous working conditions. Last year, Canada approved over 239,000 temporary foreign workers, more than double the number from 2018, with workers increasingly being used in sectors like fast food and construction.
Chris Ramsaroop of Justice for Migrant Workers expressed concerns over the racial dehumanization faced by these workers and the lack of change despite political promises. Workers are often unable to access healthcare or workplace compensation and are tied to specific employers, preventing them from seeking better-paying jobs. A recent class action lawsuit alleges that elements of the program breach the Charter rights of workers.
Obokata has called for granting workers permanent resident status to end exploitation, but the government has resisted, instead pledging stricter oversight and sector-specific work permits. Advocacy groups argue that these measures only serve to deprive workers of power and perpetuate a system of indentured labor. Ramsaroop emphasized the need to stop profiting off the sacrifices of black and brown workers from the global south and to ensure fair and just treatment for all temporary foreign workers in Canada.
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