More protection needed for Hondurans working in Canada?
September 02 2010 by Liam Clifford
Work in Canada - Canadian Flag
Critics are claiming that more measures should be introduced to protect Honduran agricultural staff working in Canada under the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program.
Hondurans have begun working in Canada this week following their inclusion in the TFW Program. This followed pressure from the Quebec Farm Lobby, who said they needed more labour from abroad, as well as Honduran officials who wanted people from the poor central American country to be able to work in Canada temporarily to boost their income.
However, unions in Canada claim that more needs to be done to protect the rights of foreigners living in Canada under the TFW Program. A spokesperson for the UFCW union said, "The TFW program is the federal government's 'Exploitation Express' that delivers migrant workers to Canada as a vulnerable and disposable work force."
They are particularly critical of a clause in the TFW Program that refers to the guidelines for the fair treatment of immigrant workers: Canada "has no power to intervene or ensure the contract is enforced."
The UFCW spokesperson concluded, "The collusion between the farm lobby and the governments is not only appalling, but an assault on the rights and safety of precarious workers who are fired and shipped out if they voice any concerns."
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