Foreign workers in Canada who suffer abuse often endure this situation for a prolonged period of time before seeking help, as leaving an employer under a closed work permit risks immediate loss of work authorization. This is one of the conclusions of a new report, Emergency Exit or Dead End? An Analysis of the Impacts of the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers in Canada, that sheds light on the challenges faced by migrant workers navigating the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) program.

While the VWOWP was designed to provide a pathway for workers to escape abuse, the research highlights “significant barriers to accessing and benefiting from the program, as well as new vulnerabilities that emerge even for successful applicants.” Abuse suffered by these workers commonly includes exploitative working conditions, inadequate housing, non-payment of wages, financial fraud, and psychological harm.

Conducted in collaboration with community organizations, including FCJ Refugee Centre, and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Mitacs, the report draws on 47 in-depth interviews with migrant workers across Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia who applied for the program between 2021 and 2024.

Low uptake

The report points out that many workers are unaware of the VWOWP program or discover it too late, and the application process imposes a heavy burden of proof, requiring detailed evidence that workers in precarious situations often cannot obtain. These barriers result in a low uptake of the program, with only about 50% of applications being approved.

Even after successfully obtaining a VWOWP, workers face continued challenges. The report documents ongoing precarities, including difficulties securing new employment, housing instability, and limited access to social services. The temporary nature of the permit leaves workers vulnerable to further exploitation, as they must often re-enter the closed work permit system to maintain their legal status. The trauma associated with abuse and the stress of navigating Canada’s immigration and labor systems also significantly impact workers’ mental health, with some expressing feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

The report calls for urgent reforms to address systemic issues that perpetuate abuse and precarity for migrant workers. Recommendations include improving access to the VWOWP program by streamlining the application process, enhancing awareness through targeted outreach, and providing greater legal and financial support for applicants. Structural reforms, such as ending closed work permits and creating permanent residence pathways for temporary migrant workers, are also essential to ensuring that Canada’s migration system upholds the dignity and rights of those who contribute so significantly to its economy.