Migrant Workers and the Problem of Social Cohesion in Canada
Abstract
This paper explores the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Our case studies of temporary foreign workers in nursing and trades in Alberta suggest that the TFWP encourages low trust and sense of belonging among migrant workers and resistance from domestic workers because it promotes inequality and exclusion. The inability of most migrant workers to access settlement services, to bring families, to change employers, or to enroll in further education and training overtly discourages their integration into the local community. The TFWP also impacts the domestic workforce and citizenry by creating a new class of workers and non-citizens without the same rights. The dynamics observed at a workplace level predictably impact local communities and Canadian society overall: patterns of diversity are destabilized, values of fairness and equal opportunity are challenged, and norms of reciprocity are weakened.
Notes
Open-access – Yes
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12134-014-0323-y.pdf
Location
Alberta
Key recommendations
NA
Key populations
TFWs (temporary foreign worker)
Key findings
The findings of this research show that the TFW program is not supportive of the integration of foreign worker. It reinforces inequality and exclusion of migrant worker because migrant worker are deprived of accessing settlement services, bringing family members, change employers, and benefit from Canadian education. This reality has resulted in temporary foreign worker being viewed as secondary class worker who do not have the same rights as other worker in Canada. Key findings
Gaps identified
The social and political objectives of the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) is social cohesion of temporary worker, but the way this program is functioning in Canada is actually working against these objectives.
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA