MPs say program being exploited for cheap labour
The country's Foreign Worker Program is being abused by Canadian employers and should be reviewed by the federal government, according to members of the New Democratic Party.
Three British Columbia MPs — Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, the party's national labour critic, MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) and MP Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) — said the legitimacy of the program's permit process and the manner in which the program is being used to address skill and labour needs in Canada should be re-assessed.
According to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, the Foreign Worker Program (FWP) has been used to replace legitimate union workers at a nursing home in Kelowna, B.C.
There have also been complaints to the B.C. Labour Relations Board about the treatment of about 40 skilled foreign tradespeople working on Vancouver's new rapid transit line. The workers were brought to Canada under the FWP and according to the Construction and Specialized Workers Union Local 1611, the workers were paid less than standard wages.
Siksay said this example shows how foreign workers, and the FWP, are being exploited for cheap labour. Because there are not regulatory standards under the program, more and more violations of workers' rights are occurring, said Davies, while Julian said such abuses lower employment standards for all Canadians.
Three British Columbia MPs — Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, the party's national labour critic, MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) and MP Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) — said the legitimacy of the program's permit process and the manner in which the program is being used to address skill and labour needs in Canada should be re-assessed.
According to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, the Foreign Worker Program (FWP) has been used to replace legitimate union workers at a nursing home in Kelowna, B.C.
There have also been complaints to the B.C. Labour Relations Board about the treatment of about 40 skilled foreign tradespeople working on Vancouver's new rapid transit line. The workers were brought to Canada under the FWP and according to the Construction and Specialized Workers Union Local 1611, the workers were paid less than standard wages.
Siksay said this example shows how foreign workers, and the FWP, are being exploited for cheap labour. Because there are not regulatory standards under the program, more and more violations of workers' rights are occurring, said Davies, while Julian said such abuses lower employment standards for all Canadians.
