WRAPA ‘tremendously successful,’ according to labour and immigration minister
Manitoba’s Worker Recruitment and Protection Act (WRAPA) has proven effective in protecting vulnerable immigrants and supporting employers that want to recruit foreign workers, according to provincial Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan.
“(It) has been tremendously successful in preventing workers from being exploited and in supporting and educating employers who wish to recruit foreign workers,” said Allan, calling the legislation — which has been on the books for six months and was the first of its kind in Canada — a “win for workers and a win for employers.”
So far, more than 900 employers have registered through the legislation. The employer registration process is the cornerstone of the legislation, said Allan.
“It provides employers interested in hiring foreign workers with everything they need to successfully recruit in a fair and ethical manner, from knowing their responsibilities and the pitfalls of being involved with unscrupulous recruiters to matching them with skilled workers in Manitoba or internationally,” she said.
Once employers are registered, it makes it easier for the province to locate foreign workers who are in Manitoba so supports can be offered and workplaces can be monitored for compliance with WRAPA and employment standards legislation, said Allan.
“Unscrupulous recruiters who have made a living victimizing and preying on foreign workers are not tolerated here,” she said.
“Our legislation has uncovered and put an end to many unethical and illegitimate practices, such as workers being charged exorbitant fees.”
WRAPA should be looked at by other jurisdictions as a model, said John Ryan, chair and acting CEO of the Toronto-based Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, a non-profit group that regulates the activities of immigration consultants who provide immigration advice for a fee.
“Manitoba has pioneered important public policy that ensures the protection of vulnerable foreign nationals and we have recommended this type of regulation serve as a model for other jurisdictions,” said Ryan.
For more information, visit www.manitoba.ca/labour/standards.
