In The Shadows" Exploring The Notion Of "Community" For Temporary Foreign Workers In A Boomtown
- Date
2013
- Authors
Jason Foster and Alison Taylor
- Abstract
The rapid expansion of the oil sands in northern Alberta in the early 21st century led to the use of significant numbers of temporary foreign workers. These foreign workers became a part of the region’s so-called “shadow population.” This paper examines how the presence of foreign workers affects conceptions of community and social cohesion through the experiences of foreign workers employed in oil sands construction. The study finds foreign workers are excluded from the life of the community due to their differential exclusion, vulnerable and precarious connection to the labour market, experiences of discrimination, and conflicted transnational community identities. The paper discusses
the shortcomings of community and social cohesion approaches in addressing temporary foreign workers and considers the policy limitations of a widespread temporary foreign worker program.- Journal title
Canadian Journal of Sociology
- Volume
38
- Issue
2
- Page numbers
167-190
- File Attachments
- Links
- Economic sectors
Underground mine service and support workers, Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators, and Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
- Content types
Policy analysis
- Target groups
Researchers
- Geographical focuses
Alberta
- Spheres of activity
Cultural and ethnic studies and Sociology
- Languages
English