Access tohealth andsocial rightsfor migrantworkers
Dr. Jill Hanley
Associate Professor at McGill School ofSocial Work
Conducting research on “precariousstatus” migrants for 15 years
Active in community work supportingmigrant workers
Participant in government consultations
Migrant workers in Canada
Long history
Shift from permanent to temporary
Serious concerns about temporarymigrants’ social rights
Five areas of concern forhuman rights
Immigration status
Labour rights
Health
Education
Housing
Three barriers to access
Legal eligibility
Socio-economic barriers
Cultural barriers, especially language
Immigration status
Concept of “precarious immigrationstatus”
Permanent residents
Refugee claimants
Temporary Foreign Workers**
Undocumented Workers**
Labour rights
Generally, same labour rights
But tied to one job (TFWs) or no legal rightto work (undocumented)
Widespread rights violations: unpaidovertime, unjust dismissal, low unionization
Workers unaware of their rights
Health
TFWs have Medicare, undocumented none
Work more hazardous to their health + stress
Difficulty accessing care: no healthcard, notime off work, afraid for boss to find out,discrimination by health professionals
Cultural differences in healthcare
Education
Adults: no right to further education
Children: full rights for children of TFWs,complicated for undocumented children
Language an issue, but addressed inprimary & secondary school
Housing
Some TFWs required to live on employers’premises
Issues of dependence on employer
Overcrowded, unsanitary, lack of privacy
No government housing benefits
Discrimination in private housing market
Where does this lead?
Immediate violation of human rights andlack of wellbeing for migrant workers
Creates two-tiered society
Downward pressure for all workers
Current responses
Direct resistance by workers
Advocacy by community groups andunions
Various government iniatives
Policy solutions
Permanent residency upon arrival for migrantworkers
Full labour benefits (employment insurance,complaints)
Immediate Medicare for all
Full access to education for all children and tohigher education for adults
No tied housing, equal tenants rights
Thank you!jill.hanley@mcgill.ca