Intensified Exploitation and Mental Stress as Impacts of Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Alberta, Canada
Abstract
Effective policies are needed to address the issues of precarious status of migrant workers. The experience of migrant workers is highly structured by the policies and systems in destination countries. In Canada, policy changes have affected the experiences of migrants. We sought to examine the impact of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2015 on migrants in Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces. The findings of our study reveal that the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers, intensified exploitation, and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families. To attend to the marginal status of migrant workers, there is a need to broaden pathways to permanent resident status for low-wage temporary foreign workers in destination countries.
Notes
Location
Alberta
Key populations
Temporary foreign workers
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA
Key recommendations
Policy solutions that address precarious status of low-skilled TFWs
Gaps identified
Few pathways to permanent residence for low-skilled TFWs exacerbates vulnerabilities and leads to mental health challenges
Key findings
Changes to the TFW program in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers; intensified exploitation and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families.
Open-access – No