Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) operates within a framework that enables severe exploitation and discrimination against migrant workers. According to a report published by Amnesty International, workers under this program are subjected to long hours, low wages, inhumane conditions, and the arbitrary practices of their employers.
TFWP offers closed work permits that tie workers to specific employers, granting them complete control over the workers’ immigration status and working conditions. This setup leaves workers vulnerable to dismissal and deportation, preventing many from reporting the abuses they suffer. For instance, many workers arriving in Canada under this program find themselves subjected to excessive working hours, substandard wages, and dangerous working conditions. Some have faced physical and psychological abuse, while others lack access to clean drinking water and adequate healthcare.
Among these exploited workers is Benedicte, a woman from Cameroon, who arrived in 2016 to work on a farm. From the outset, she suffered sexual and psychological abuse, was forced to work 70–80 hours per week, and was underpaid. Her employer exerted strict control over her, promising to bring her children to Canada as a means of continued exploitation. Eventually, she fell ill and was diagnosed with severe anaemia. When she left the farm in 2018, her employer revoked her visa, leaving her with an irregular immigration status.
Similarly, Miguel, a migrant worker from Guatemala, endured excessive control by his employer, who confiscated his passport and installed surveillance cameras in his living quarters. Like many others in the program, he had no choice but to comply with these oppressive conditions to avoid job loss and deportation.
Migrant workers under the TFWP are not allowed to change employers, making them highly susceptible to long-term exploitation. The system predominantly targets low-income workers from Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Asia, subjecting them to ongoing abuse. Amnesty International’s report highlights that while the Canadian government is aware of these violations, it has only implemented superficial measures rather than enacting comprehensive reforms.
For example, Canada claims to have increased inspections to protect worker rights, but these efforts have failed to prevent systemic exploitation. Many workers continue to be threatened by their employers and fear dismissal or deportation if they file complaints.
This exploitation is not merely the result of a few unscrupulous employers but is embedded in the structure of the TFWP itself. Without introducing open work permits that allow migrant workers to change jobs freely, Canada cannot claim to fully uphold its human rights obligations. Temporary migrant workers deserve the same job mobility and protections as Canadian citizens.
As the Right Defenders Initiative (RDI), we strongly condemn these exploitative practices and call on the Canadian government to take immediate and effective measures to protect migrant workers. No worker should be treated as disposable or be subjected to inhumane conditions. We stand in solidarity with all migrant workers and demand justice, fair treatment, and comprehensive policy reforms to ensure their rights and dignity are upheld.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/01/canada-tfwp-abuse-migrant-workers/
