Labor Trafficking in Canada: The Policy Gaps that Leave Migrant Workers Vulnerable to Exploitation
James McLean, MPP & Julia Drydyk, MPP | September 22 | 9:45-10:45 am
Topic: Legal, International | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Labor trafficking comprises a small percentage of police-reported cases in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2022). This has contributed to public perceptions that labor trafficking is rare in the country, making it relatively invisible within the broader crime of human trafficking. However, labor trafficking is underreported to law enforcement and in existing national datasets (Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, 2020). This is due to the difficulty of reaching the groups at the highest risk of exploitation, namely temporary foreign workers, migrant workers, and those with irregular (or undocumented) immigration status. The structure of existing programs and processes also creates disincentives for these individuals to report abuse. Canada’s economy has become dependent on low-wage temporary foreign workers to fill critical labor gaps. The current system ties these workers to a single employer, leaving them highly susceptible to labor exploitation and trafficking. This presentation will provide an overview of how Canada’s immigration system facilitates an environment that makes labor trafficking more likely. It will highlight the policies that create vulnerabilities for workers, including restricted labor mobility, limited access to services and supports, inadequate program oversight, and insufficient protections and remedies related to human trafficking. Additionally, attendees will leave the presentation with a set of recommendations for addressing these policy gaps, which can be used by organizations to advocate for change.
Presentation Objectives:
· Contextualize labor trafficking in Canada, including the intersection of immigration and labor market systems
· Outline gaps in existing immigration and labor market policies that increase the risk of exploitation and trafficking
· Provide recommendations for all levels of government to address these policy issues