Migrant Welcome UN Slavery Rapporteur Call for Permanent Resident Status for All

Media Contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org 

Migrant Welcome UN Slavery Rapporteur Call for Permanent Resident Status for All

Toronto, September 6, 2023 – The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC) welcomes the statement in Ottawa from United Nations Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Professor Tomoya Obokata today in which he called for “paths to longterm or permanent residency be open to all migrant workers”. 

The UN Rapporteur was in Canada on a country mission where he met with migrants including 40 members of (MWAC), Indigenous people, people with disability and incarcerated people, persons of African descent and other groups facing exploitation. In his End of Mission press conference today, Professor Obokata said that  was “disturbed” that “certain categories of migrant workers are made vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery in Canada by the policies that regulate their immigration status, employment, and housing in Canada, and he is particularly concerned that this workforce is disproportionately racialized, attesting to deep-rooted racism and xenophobia entrenched in Canada’s immigration system”. 

He also reiterated that “Newcomers who enter Canada outside of TFWP experience similar precarity. International students who work in excess of the permitted 20 hours per week, asylum-seekers awaiting their work permits, undocumented migrant workers, and those that have lost status are vulnerable to many of the same abusive practices, as they may not report abuses for fear of deportation. Employers who are aware of their status may exploit them under threat of denouncing them to immigration authorities.”

The UN Rapporteur also echoed a call for regularization of all undocumented people, a call that was also made in June 2023 by the UN Rapporteur on Migration.

“The United Nations Rapporteur has yet again stated what we all know, and migrants have been saying for decades – a two-tier system of immigration where over 1.2 million new temporary permits are being issued each year breeds exploitation, exclusion and violence. All migrants, including undocumented people, migrant students, workers and refugees, must have permanent resident status to protect themselves and ensure a fair society,” said Syed Hussan, executive director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Prime Minister Trudeau promised regularization of undocumented people and permanent resident status for migrant students, workers and families in a mandate letter commitment in December 2021, 20 months later, migrants continue to suffer. 

Background:

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a migrant-led, membership based organization of farmworkers, fishery workers, careworkers, undocumented people and current and former international students uniting for immigration and labour justice. 

www.MigrantWorkersAlliance.org 

Migrant Workers – You may be able to study now!

This information is up to date as for June 27, 2023. Please check back for updates

What was announced?
Temporary foreign workers with a “work permit” (see below for who may be excluded) that is valid on June 7, 2023, or temporary foreign workers with an expired work permit but who applied for an extension June 7, 2023, may be able to study for up to three years without a study permit.

What changed exactly? 
Until now, if you were on a work permit, you could only study for a course of up to 6 months. For courses  longer than 6 months, you would have to apply for a study permit. Now you will be able to study without a study permit until your work permit expires.

Does this change apply to refugees, post-graduate work permit holders or humanitarian applicants with valid work permits? 
It is not clear at this time. Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

Can I study full-time?
Yes, you are allowed to study full time. 

But the work experience you get while studying full time cannot be used for future immigration applications under Express Entry programs. If you study part-time, you will be able to count the full time work for your Express Entry applications. 

If you are applying under the HCCP or HSWP or for the Agri-Food Immigraiton Pilot, it is not clear if you can count work while you are studying full time (but you can count work while you are studying part time). Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

What is part-time study?
Schools have different definitions. Usually anything less than 4 or 5 courses per semester is considered part-time. Check with the school before enrolling. 

Can I start a full-year course if my work permit expires during the course?
We don’t know if you can start a course in September for one year (until September 2024), if your work permit expires in the middle (for example in November 2023). Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

Can I get accreditation for high-school equivalency or one-year post-secondary education in this way without applying for a study permit? 
It is possible. However, you must make sure that the school you are applying to will provide you a certification that you can use. You must make sure that you choose part-time or full-time based on whether you need to count the work experience, and when your work permit expires. 

Can I study online?
Yes, you can study online. 

  • For Post-Secondary education: The post-secondary education must be a “Designated Learning Institute”. Check here to see if the school is registered. Be careful, there are many “private colleges” that are not listed so make sure you check this list even if the school is large and you know other people that attend. 
  • For high-school accreditation: Make sure it is a provincial organization. For example, in Ontario, click here.

Do I have to pay international tuition fees?
Yes, you will have to pay international tuition fees, which is 3-4 times higher than domestic tuition fees.

What are the requirements to enroll at a college or university or to get a high school diploma?
Every college and university has different requirements. You should read their websites carefully to apply. Only trust the information that you read yourself. Do not trust the advice of education agents without checking yourself. 

Fill Out This Form For More Information

Care Workers Online Monthly Meeting

The Home Child Care Worker Pilot (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) programs will expire in June 2024. Many of us are still struggling to apply for permanent resident because of English test and education credential requirements that are excluding many. On top of that, many are still in the backlog waiting for years to be reunited with their families.

But we have an opportunity to win immigration changes for all of us care workers. This is why current and former care workers like you are meeting up to connect, talk about our struggles and what can we do to improve our lives for the better.

The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC) is an organization for and by migrants. We are current and former care workers, international students, health care, farm and fishery workers across Canada uniting to win rights at work and immigration justice. Get involved and join us to win fair rules, equal rights and PR status for all of us!

We at Migrant Workers Alliance for Change wants to make sure that we have a safe space for us to talk about the issues that affects our lives while being away from our families. We are a community, we are a family that supports each other to fight for equal rights and fair immigration rules. That is why we encourage you to come to our meetings that happens every month to meet others like you.

Event : Caregivers Monthly Online Meeting

Date: Sep 26, 2023 , Tuesday

Time: 8PM Toronto, 5PM BC, 6PM AB

June 18: Migrant Care Workers Assembly

In June 2024, Home Child Care Pilot (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) programs will expire. We don’t know what program will replace it. This is a crucial moment to meet and put our heads together and make plans to win changes and fairness to immigration rules for care workers.

Join us on Sunday, June 18 at 11am in Toronto (720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202, M5S 2T9) for a meeting to discuss our demands to the government and plan for actions. All former and current care workers are welcome to join. Bring your care worker friends especially those who haven’t applied for PR or those who can’t because they are not eligible. You can also tell us what your major concerns are and what you want to be changed. We are all in this together.

Register below so that we know how many of you are coming in order for us to determine if we have enough space for everyone.

Migrant Workers Alliance For Change Reiterates Calls For Regularization And Permanent Resident Status Following New Immigration Criteria

Media Contact: Sarom Rho, 416-887-8315, sarom@migrantworkersalliance.org

Migrant Workers Alliance For Change Reiterates Calls For Regularization And Permanent Resident Status Following New Immigration Criteria

Categories of “high-need” industries highlight the urgent need for permanent residency in low-wage sectors occupied by migrants, including undocumented workers.

Toronto, May 31, 2023 — Canada’s first-ever launch of category-based immigration selection today highlights the ongoing exclusion of migrants and undocumented people from permanent residency. Many of the occupations announced today as priorities for permanent resident status are currently filled by temporary foreign workers, international students, recent graduates, and undocumented workers. But most of them will be unable to apply due to parallel rules. Undocumented people are excluded based on their lack of immigration status; while other migrants are excluded because of language tests that do not correspond to their ability to communicate, excessively high educational accreditation requirements, and being labeled as low-skilled by employers despite performing highly skilled work. Additionally, aging migrants are subjected to punitive measures through point reductions.

The newly selected occupations for priority consideration include nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates, as well as other low-wage health providers, contractors, supervisors, construction trades, installers, repairers, servicers, truck drivers, and agricultural workers.

“Migrants in low-wage sectors, including undocumented people, are essential to our communities and deserve the rights and protections that permanent resident status provides, irrespective of their employment status. However, this latest attempt to connect workers to jobs highlights the overwhelming evidence that jobs that need to be filled are being done by racialized working class migrants, and they are being excluded from equal rights only possible through permanent residency. We call upon Prime Minister Trudeau to acknowledge the facts, fulfill his promise, regularize undocumented individuals, and ensure permanent resident status for migrant students and workers.”
– Sarom Rho, Organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Background

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a migrant-led, membership based organization of farmworkers, fishery workers, careworkers, undocumented people and current and former international students uniting for immigration and labour justice. 

www.MigrantWorkersAlliance.org 

Migrant Caregivers Mother’s Day Picnic

Come and join other care workers like you in celebrating Mothers Day on Sunday, May 14 from 12 – 4pm at High Park for an afternoon filled with fun. Let share stories of struggles and make plans while sharing food, drinks and music. Bring your care worker friends. You can also bring your favorite food to share. We have a back-up location in case of rain.
When: Sunday, May 14, Mother’s Day
Location & Time: High Park @12 – 4 PM.

Bring your caregiver friends
Snacks, Games, Conversations
Let us know you will be there!

Care Workers: Online Info Session on Reduced Work Experience to Apply for PR

On February 10, 2023, Minister Sean Fraser announced that the amount of work experience in Canada required for a caregiver to qualify for permanent residence is being reduced from 24 months to 12 months.

In addition, some spaces under the existing caregiver pathways have been reserved for caregivers who already have work experience in Canada from a previous work permit so that they are able to apply for permanent residence.

Register below to come to an information session on Thursday, April 20th, to find out how you will be affected and what to do to prepare.

Assembly: Update on Regularization Campaign and What Comes Next!

Join us online on Thursday, April 27 at 8pm (Toronto time) for an open and anonymous meeting for undocumented migrants and supporters across the country. We will provide an update on regularization, answer all your questions, and share what needs to be done for us to win!

REGISTER RIGHT NOW to get the Zoom link or come back to this registration page on April 27th and join in. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Spanish and English.

Emergency Rally & Petition Delivery: No STCA! Status for All!

Join us in grief and rage.

Click to sign this petition so we can make sure this devastating policy does not go unnoticed, and shine a spotlight on the need for fundamental change including permanent resident status for all.


If you can’t attend at 12pm, there is also a vigil at the same location at 4:30pm organized by the Toronto Refugee Rights Day organizing committee.


Refugees and other migrants were already dying crossing via Roxham Road because the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) and other immigration laws made it impossible to travel safely. Now, with STCA expanded, both the US and Canada have legislated a policy of turning away migrants. Any refugee crossing over will be able to be deported without due process within the first 14 days of arrival. This will force refugees to take even more dangerous routes and cause even more suffering and death. Prime Minister Trudeau says Canada welcomes migrants, even as he is slamming the door shut and putting migrants in danger.