Temporary foreign workers in the Prairie Region: Policy research
Abstract
The Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) and the
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) jointly commissioned Pivotal Research Inc. (Pivotal Research) to conduct policy research focused on Temporary
Foreign Workers (TFWs) in the Prairie provinces—encompassing the provinces
of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan—building on the TFW Prairie Region
Project to provide AAISA and CCIS with insights and opportunities to strengthen the TFW-serving ecosystem across the Prairie region.
Notes
Key recommendations
Increase legislation in Alberta for temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to ensure safety in the Prairie region, such as changing conditions to make the work permit applicable to more than one job in the same sector, and work permits for spouses of TFWs
Create a monitoring program through funding from provincial governments of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to assist employers and TFWs
Create a settlement/integration service for TFWs specifically, as well as provision of (ideally translated) information before and during immigration to Canada
Create a partnership powered model, with umbrella organizations working together to form a coalition
Create a specific TFW research centre to produce a database with all data pertaining to TFWs, and creation of a TFW-service delivery pertaining conference
Gaps identified
Challenges contacting employers of TFWs resulted in decreased access to TFW testimony, as well as testimony by employers themselves
Conduct multi-stakeholder needs assessments and document the TFW recruitment process, experience of “champion” TFW sponsoring employers, role of foreign embassies, experience of migrant seasonal farmworkers and undocumented TFWs, and engaging TFWs in program reform research.
Key populations
tempory foreign workers (TFW)
Key findings
Issues with integration are the most prominent issue, due to lack of accessibility of supports, and issues with housing, healthcare,
Recruiters may be falsely presenting the TFW program as a route to immigration, as well as salary, job position, and living conditions – this leads to increased vulnerability/willingness of TFWs to perform work in unsafe conditions
Desire of PR status may result in workers not speaking up against working conditions due to fear of lack of support from the employer in application
Employers of TFWs may not be providing enough information to workers about their rights and supports, resulting in a strong power imbalance
The COVID-19 pandemic made it more difficult to enforce employer adherence to working conditions, due to factors such as remote inspections, not enough resources due to lockdowns, as well as outbreaks due to unsafe working conditions
Location
Alberta
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Community organizations
AAISA
CCIS
Integration timeline
Open-access – Yes