New Housing Standards Better Protect Agricultural Temporary Foreign Workers

When temporary foreign workers in Canada’s agriculture industry have safe and adequate housing, the agriculture industry can thrive

AP Newswire

The Government of Canada takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the rights and freedoms of temporary foreign workers are protected, including their right to safe and adequate housing. As a result, in April 2017, Ottawa set out a path forward plan for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that included commitments to protect the rights of foreign workers in Canada, and subsequently this week announced new measures now put in place to strengthen housing requirements for temporary foreign workers under the Primary Agriculture Stream, including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

“The goal was to establish a cohesive Temporary Foreign Worker Program housing standard across Canada”

 

“Our government takes seriously its responsibility to protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers,” stated Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. “These new housing measures will help to ensure that temporary foreign workers in the agriculture industry have safe and adequate housing while working in Canada.”

As of January 1, 2018, housing inspection reports submitted to the department must be less than eight months old and must indicate the maximum number of people that the housing can accommodate. Employers must also now provide proof that all issues listed in the housing inspection report have been fully addressed before they will be allowed to hire foreign workers.

The Government of Canada has already taken a number of steps to improve the conditions for foreign agricultural workers including conducting more on-site inspections to verify first-hand that the working and housing conditions of temporary foreign workers meet program requirements. The Government has also launched the Primary Agriculture Review which includes a National Housing Study with the goal of establishing a cohesive Temporary Foreign Worker Program housing standard across Canada.

Employment and Social Development Canada recently provided more than $93,000 to the Migrant Workers’ Dignity Association to help migrant workers become better informed about their rights as workers in Canada.