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