Migrant Workers Firmly Uphold Their Rights on Eve of Fall Parliamentary Session
Toronto, September 15, 2024
Under the banner Say No to Racism! Say Yes to Immigrant Justice! the Migrant Rights Network and its allies organized actions in Charlottetown, Moncton, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, Sudbury, Edmonton and Vancouver between September 12 and 15. They firmly demanded that the Government of Canada uphold the rights of migrant and undocumented workers, international students and refugees which are under attack as the government tries to find scapegoats for all the ills which have befallen society as a result of its own anti-social offensive and pay-the-rich schemes.
The actions also condemned the ongoing abuse and exploitation of migrant workers, international students, refugees and undocumented people who are estimated to be close to 500,000 in number and demanded these attacks stop forthwith. The report on Canada by Tomoya Obokata, the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, released on July 22, said that Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) "serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalizes asymmetries of power that favour employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights."
Government officials and representatives of employer organizations strenuously opposed what some called extremist language and challenged his findings, citing government reports which show compliance with regulations in a majority of cases. Their responses basically ignore the conditions which make people vulnerable. They also ignore that some of those who deny the conclusions drawn by the rapporteur are champions of narrow private interests that benefit from the government's failure to uphold the dignity of labour across the board and that migrant and undocumented workers, international students and refugees are clearly vulnerable.
Speakers at the actions addressed their own experiences with the government's brutal and racist immigration system that is engaged in human trafficking and gross human rights violations. The situation facing tens of thousands of people who are brought to Canada under the TFWP is deplorable, as is the recruitment of international students. They are promised permanent status when in fact, they and their families are used as cash cows to meet Canada's desperation for funds to contribute to its pay-the-rich schemes while it cuts funds for social programs, education included.
International students contribute more than $25 billion annually to Canada but the government permits unscrupulous landlords to gouge them. International students who face deportation after studying and working in Canada for years number at least 150,000. Their Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) are about to expire and there has been no response from the Trudeau Liberals to extend them, leaving the students hanging.
All those who work and study in Canada contribute to Canada's economy, culture and life immediately after they get here but their dignity is brutally violated, causing untold distress and hardship.
Representatives of the Migrant Rights Network pointed to the need for permanent status. Without permanent status, refugees, temporary foreign workers, current and former international students, and undocumented people are even more vulnerable to mistreatment and racism in the workplace, exploitation by landlords, and wage theft, because they are denied basic rights and protections. Canada must end this abuse by providing permanent residency without exception.
An overarching theme in the pan-Canadian action in support of migrants, refugees, international students and undocumented people was the rejection of attempts by the highest officials in Canada to scape-goat them for the problems for which governments are themselves responsible. For example, the event in Toronto pointed out that in the last two years Bell Canada cut 6,000 jobs while its CEO pocketed $13 million in salary and benefits. The banks -- TD, Royal Bank of Canada and Scotia Bank -- besides being invested in the Israeli military carrying out the genocide against Palestinians, recently cut 7,500 jobs while their top brass received first-rate "compensation" for services rendered.
It was also noted that corporate landlords and speculators, such as Starlight Investment, control thousands of rental units for which they get government subsidies from the public purse, while evicting vulnerable tenants and raising rents. This contributes to created an artificial housing shortage for which they should be prosecuted. It is not migrant workers, international students and refugees who are the cause of the housing shortage, as government spokespersons and media claim in order to incite attacks and a backlash against them.
Slogans which rang out during the actions included: We Want Justice!, Status for All!, If You Want Justice -- We Must Resist! If You Want Justice -- Raise Your Fist!, No Hate, No Fear, Immigrants are Welcome Here!, and We Raise our Kids -- We Work all Night! But Side by Side -- We are Ready to Fight!
Toronto, September 15, 2024
Ottawa, September 17, 2024
This article was published in
Volume 54
Number 9 - September 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/M540097.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca