access to health and social rights for migrant workers
TRANSCRIPT
Access to health and social rights for migrant workers
Dr. Jill Hanley Associate Professor at McGill School of
Social Work
Conducting research on “precarious status” migrants for 15 years
Active in community work supporting migrant workers
Participant in government consultations
Migrant workers in Canada Long history
Shift from permanent to temporary
Serious concerns about temporary migrants’ social rights
Five areas of concern for human 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 immigration
status”
Permanent residents Refugee claimants Temporary Foreign Workers** Undocumented Workers**
Labour rights Generally, same labour rights
But tied to one job (TFWs) or no legal right to work (undocumented)
Widespread rights violations: unpaid overtime, 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, no time 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 in primary & 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 and
lack of wellbeing for migrant workers
Creates two-tiered society
Downward pressure for all workers
Current responses Direct resistance by workers
Advocacy by community groups and unions
Various government iniatives
Policy solutions Permanent residency upon arrival for migrant workers
Full labour benefits (employment insurance, complaints)
Immediate Medicare for all
Full access to education for all children and to higher education for adults
No tied housing, equal tenants rights
