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home / 世界杯决赛2022

migrant workers group seeks better legal protection during pandemic

an organization that defends the rights of migrant and undocumented workers is lobbying for greater protections for the workers during the covid-19 pandemic.

by vancouver sun

apr 30 2020
read time 2 minute read
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by keith fraser
an organization in b.c. that defends migrant workers is calling for the canadian government to improve the legal status of the workers. it says many of them are undocumented and working on the “frontlines” during the covid-19 pandemic.
natalie drolet, the executive director of the migrant workers centre, said wednesday migrant workers, many working as grocery store clerks, cleaners, health care workers, truckers and farm workers, are affected by the pandemic as much if not more than others.
“it is now crystal clear that these essential workers include migrant workers and undocumented workers in our country,” drolet said in a video statement on the centre’s facebook page.
“for too long canada has not valued the contributions made by migrant and undocumented workers. the covid-19 pandemic has changed that. we cannot turn our backs to these essential workers anymore. they put their lives at risk for the sake of all of us, yet for many their future in canada is uncertain.”
the centre estimates there are between 200,000 and 500,000 undocumented migrant workers in canada, defined in some cases as individuals who have come here with some form of temporary status, such as a work permit, and then stayed when their permit expired, leaving them with no status. it’s believed tens of thousands are in b.c.
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even though many migrant workers, whether documented or not, are performing essential work, many have no way of becoming permanent residents in canada because of the restrictive policies for such low-wage work, said juliana dalley, a staff lawyer with the centre.
“the reality is that these jobs are in demand and workers are needed to do these jobs and migrant workers and undocumented workers are doing these jobs. yet they are doing so in fear.”
the centre is calling for the government to create what it calls a new permanent residency program for migrant workers, including undocumented workers, in sectors facing labour shortages.
it also wants the government to allow those workers to apply for a 12-month “open” work permit that would maintain or regularize their status while their application for permanent residency is in process.
a man from india who was only identified by the name of carlos told the press conference that he recently lost his home care support job in the lower mainland and is at risk of becoming undocumented because his work permit only authorizes him to work for one employer and changing the conditions of a permit can be a lengthy and complex process.
“i am feeling overwhelmed with my current situation and the covid-19 outbreak,” he said. “since i have a background in health care and being a health care worker, i would like to serve the community in its time of need.”
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earlier this month, health officials reported an outbreak of covid-19 among a group of temporary foreign workers at a west kelowna farm.
the centre has sent its demands to immigration, refugees and citizenship canada and prime minister justin trudeau. the federal department had no immediate comment.

kfraser@postmedia.com | twitter.com/keithrfraser

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