Community organizations

NA

Location

Alberta

Key recommendations

• Need for systemic changes to immigration policy to address the transition from TFW status to living without status in Canada
• Need to address the issue of human trafficking for the purposes of labour in Canada
• Creating better avenues for recourse against employer exploitation and abuse and remove the demand that TFW worker permits be tied to one employer
• Humanitarian and compassionate grounds should also be expanded to allow more people to stay in Canada with Canadian children
• Service provider organizations should provide supports for those without status as well as those with worker permits

Key findings

Once out of status, many migrants face a range of challenges in destination countries around the world. These include labour exploitation, a lack of rights, and marginalization and exclusion.

This study found several factors contribute to irregular migration in Canada:

• policy changes, especially the 4-year limitation on TFW’s work in Canada, have driven many out of status
• employer abuse or exploitation leads to the loss of status
• language barriers prevent many from accessing permanent residency or effectively communicating with supports

• financial strain prevents those who lost their status to provide substantial evidence of financial independence when applying for permanent residency

  • financial strain leads to poor mental health and well-being
• barriers to service access, including healthcare, education, and other services

• workers who lost their status after the 2014 reform, remained in Canada without a status while pursuing permanent residency;

  • the pursuit of permanent residency is often motivated by the desire to reunite with families
  • diaspora communities across the world often help migrants without status navigate these challenges by supporting their access of resources, rights, and information

Key populations

TFWs

Gaps identified

Government policy change often drives migrant workers out of status

Integration timeline

At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?

3-9 years

Open-access – No