2011-04-29
Justicia for Migrant Workers
Migrant workers struggle to continue despite recent Supreme Court decision.
Justice For Migrant Workers
(Toronto): In the face of the utter contempt by Canada’s highest court, Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW) reaffirms its commitment to the struggle for migrant justice in Canada. Today, the Supreme Court failed to address issues raised by Justicia for Migrant Workers relating to agricultural worker self-determination, to ongoing racism in Canadian society and to the inherently exclusionary impact of Canada's immigration laws. The Court's ruling in Fraser reinforces the hyper-exploitative and apartheid-like conditions faced by hundreds of thousands of migrant workers across Canada.
While the recent decision reflects an ongoing unwillingness in this country to deal with its racist past and present, migrant worker organizing will not be deterred. J4MW will continue to work with migrant workers to take matters into their own hands to assert their dignity and to assert control over their everyday lives.
“Canada's temporary foreign worker programs are based on our country’s ongoing legacy of slavery and indentureship” says Adrian Smith, an organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers. "Canada’s immigration and labour laws systemically deny migrant workers to exert their rights through the traditional legal framework. Workers will take action into their own hands irrespective of what the courts say. We do not need to the Supreme Court to tell us these schemes are racist. We have history on our side” continues Smith.
Justicia for Migrant Workers continue to demand:
Status upon arrival for all temporary foreign workers.
The elimination of placement and recruitment fees for all migrant workers
An appeals mechanism against deportation/ repatriations
Reform labour laws to provide better coverage for all TFWP workers
Provide migrants equal access to all social entitlements, including EI, CPP, welfare and health care
Agriculture and horticulture workers
Policy analysis
Sensibilisation du public
Canada, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Colombie-Britannique, Autres provinces, Fédéral, Nouvelle-Écosse et National relevance
Anglais et Espagnol