A new Amnesty International report reveals widespread exploitation and abuse of migrant workers under Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP), highlighting systemic issues that leave workers vulnerable to mistreatment.
The report, titled "'Canada has destroyed me': Labour exploitation of migrant workers in Canada," documents disturbing accounts from 44 migrant workers across 14 countries who faced various forms of abuse while working in Canada.
One of the most striking testimonies comes from Bénédicte, a woman from Cameroon, who arrived in Canada in 2016 to work on a farm. "I did not expect to be a slave here," she told Amnesty International. She reported being forced to work 70-80 hour weeks, experiencing racist psychological and sexual abuse, and having her movements strictly controlled by her employer.
The investigation found that workers commonly experienced:
- Unpaid wages and excessive working hours
- Unsafe working conditions leading to injuries
- Inadequate housing conditions
- Physical, sexual and psychological abuse
- Racial discrimination and verbal harassment
- Limited access to healthcare
- Threats of deportation
The report points to the TFWP's structure as the root cause of these issues. Under the program, workers' visas are tied to a single employer, giving that employer control over both their immigration status and working conditions. In 2023, approximately 70% of TFWP permits were granted to workers from Mexico, India, Philippines, Guatemala and Jamaica.
"Many migrant workers have told us they came to Canada hoping to secure a better future, yet instead, they felt they were treated like slaves," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director at Amnesty International.
The organization calls for major reforms, including abolishing tied visas in favor of open work permits that would allow workers to change employers freely. They argue that minor adjustments to the current system are insufficient to address the systematic exploitation occurring under the program.
Despite recent government measures to strengthen oversight, including increased penalties for non-compliant employers, Amnesty International maintains that fundamental changes are needed to protect migrant workers' rights and bring Canada in line with its international human rights obligations.
The TFWP, launched in 1973, continues to be a critical source of labor for various sectors including agriculture, food processing, healthcare, construction, and hospitality. However, the report concludes that without substantial reform, the program will continue to enable labor exploitation of vulnerable workers.