Migrant farm workers have told the Globe and Mail they fear reprisals if they complain.
The Globe reported “they have been punished by their employers over disagreements about COVID-19 precautions, fuelling calls for an independent oversight agency that would empower temporary foreign workers to register complaints without fear of reprisal.
“A number of migrant farm workers in B.C. and Ontario told The Globe and Mail they were fired or unnecessarily forced to quarantine after being accused of breaking pandemic-related rules or speaking out about inadequate safety measures.”
The federal government has announced investments and new measures to help ensure migrant workers are protected from COVID-19 in the short term and is undertaking a review or the Temporary Foreign Worker program for the longer term.
Workers and people advocating for them say they want the revamp to include the creation of an independent agency to probe complaints, with the guarantee that employees won’t be punished for raising concerns.
Currently, workers can lodge complaints with consular officials or Canadian authorities. There is a federal tip-line and there are provincial labour relations boards.
As of last year, migrant workers can also apply for open work permits, which allow those with employer-specific permits to leave abusive situations and work elsewhere for up to one year.
