Click to download the full report

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.

As part of the FCJ Refugee Centre’s Migrant Workers Mobile Program, two members of our Anti-Human Trafficking team (Manager Jovana Blagovcanin, and Migrant Case Coordinator Diana Caipa) traveled to Simcoe, Ontario, on Thursday, August 29, to participate in the Farmworkers’ Appreciation Day, organized by The Huron Farmworker Ministry.

Around 200 migrant workers participated in the activity, which included games, prizes, and a BBQ. They also visited stands from different organizations that offered free support.

FCJ Refugee Centre was present with a stand, where we had the opportunity to share information about rights, laws, policies, and available community support, and offer our support in cases of abuse and exploitation at work.

This visit not only allowed migrant workers to have a great time in a different setting, but it also gave us the chance to work on our mission of preventing labor exploitation among migrant workers by equipping them with information and resources.

June 10,2024

Dear Prime Minister, dear Minister of Public Safety,

Cc: Dear Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Dear Minister of Immigration, dear Minister of Employment and Workforce Development, dear Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development

Background

The Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network (TCHTN) is a collaborative coalition of governmental and non-governmental organizations, agencies, and individuals with the mandate of providing a comprehensive response to human trafficking in the Toronto area. These partners are committed to working towards the eradication of human trafficking, while facilitating services and protection to trafficked persons through a holistic approach rooted in human rights and the unique needs of each individual.

As a diverse and growing network of over 30 organizations, our members offer various supports and services to victims and survivors of human trafficking/exploitation, as well as upstream prevention programs, advocacy, research, education, and more. Through their work, our members address different forms of human trafficking including, but not limited to, domestic and international sex trafficking, labour trafficking, and forced marriage.

Many of our Network’s members participated in Public Safety Canada’s regional and national human trafficking consultations in 2018 before the National Strategy was launched, and we are now gathering information on the status and future of the Strategy as it completes its final year. We understand that there will be an evaluation of the Strategy published in the Summer of 2024, which we look forward to analyzing when it becomes available. We are eager to understand if/how the different deliverables of the Strategy were implemented, and what future opportunities for funding exist for community organizations, including those not currently funded by Public Safety Canada.

Ongoing Consultations

Regarding the renewal of the National Strategy and future plans, we stress the importance of ongoing consultations with service providers, grassroots organizations, Indigenous groups, advocates, survivors, children and youth, and other community stakeholders such as those in the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network, and that these consultations take an intersectional and holistic approach. We also highlight the value of consulting with organizations who were not funded by Public Safety Canada, despite implementing much of the work outlined in the Strategy.

In addition to ongoing consultations with community organizations, it is crucial to implement, maintain, and fund a Survivor Advisory Table with members representing all forms of human trafficking, as each form is unique. Survivors must be meaningfully engaged and consulted on an ongoing basis, at every stage of the work. Consultations must always take into account each survivor’s need for safety and privacy and should be approached with a trauma and violence informed lens. Survivor input and recommendations are invaluable, and must be treated with the same regard and respect as other experts in the anti-trafficking space. They are, in fact, the real experts. In this light, we also believe that survivors should be compensated fairly for their time and expertise in their role as advisors. Indeed, survivors must be treated as equal partners in all aspects of this work.

Employing Existing Work and Studies

Moving forward, it is also crucial for the government to consider the many studies and reports that have already been published, such as the Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s 2023 study of the Human Trafficking of Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery’s report on his 2023 study of Canada (which members of our Network helped organize and participated in), the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and others. Considering the many recommendations that already exist will ensure that Public Safety Canada is respecting previous efforts of community organizations, survivors and Indigenous communities, and that processes avoid duplicating work and remain as efficient as possible.

Mitigating Risks

We believe that Canada must renew its commitment to combating human trafficking and implement an ongoing whole-of-government National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking given the prevalence of trafficking in not just the city centres, but across the country. This is especially critical when it comes to preventative strategies to mitigate risks of labour and sexual exploitation resulting from Canada’s upcoming financial commitments, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in Toronto and Vancouver. We also believe that any policy reforms that are central to mitigating the risk of exploitation, such as on the overhaul of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, should be part of the larger consultation with the anti-human trafficking sector across the country and should be informed by lived experience.

We firmly believe that with a collaborative approach that values community and grassroots input, and by working more closely together, we can make significant strides in eradicating human trafficking and strengthening our communities while building a more just and equitable society.

We look forward to continuing this conversation with Public Safety Canada and other government stakeholders in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Aura Freedom International
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
Carolyn Luscombe-Coordinator- Victim Services- Metis Nation of Ontario
FCJ Refugee Centre
Mary Ward Centre
OneChild
The I Do! Project

“Adopting a comprehensive, gender-responsive and rights-based regularization scheme is essential to addressing the unique challenges faced by migrant women with lived experiences of Gender-Based Violence and human trafficking.”

That is one of the main conclusions of the paper Ensuring Equity: Advancing immigration pathways for women with lived experience of gender-based violence and human trafficking, recently published by the FCJ Refugee Centre’s Migrant Women’s Counter Human Trafficking Alliance.

The paper discussed the multifaced issue of Gender-Based Violence, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by migrant women in Canada.

Drawing on the work of the Migrant Women’s Alliance at FCJ Refugee Centre, it outlines the structural barriers that migrant women face due to their precarious immigration status, including dependence on spousal sponsorship and limited pathways to permanent residence for migrant workers and caregivers.

It also reviews existing immigration resources for addressing GBV and human trafficking, pointing to the uncertainty surrounding remedies such as Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs), long processing times, and inconsistent outcomes.

The report concludes that “by implementing both temporary and permanent pathways, dismantling systemic barriers, and ensuring safer access to supports and services, the Government of Canada can significantly enhance the protection and empowerment of these women.”

“Such measures not only provide immediate relief and security but also contribute to long-term stability and integration, fostering a more inclusive and just society,” it adds.

Download the report here:

The FCJ Refugee Centre participated in the event Exploring the Intersections of Digital Technology, Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking, organized by OCASI as a part of the Immigrant and Refugee Communities: Neighbours, Friends and Families (IRCNFF) Project, and held on March 6.

Jovana Blagovcanin, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Anti-Human Trafficking Manager; and Chiara Rossi, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Anti-Human Trafficking – Women Coordinator, together with Krystal Sneider, Executive Disruptor at Collaborative Community Solutions/WomenatheCentreE, were the speakers on a panel about Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking.

In the panel, they explored the impact of digital technology and its challenges on human trafficking in local and global contexts, examining the intertwined issues of gender-based viiolence and human trafficking, with a particular focus on the experiences of international students.

They highlighted ways that migrants are recruited online, unique challenges they face seeking support, and offered recommendations on how to support them and bridge the gap in services.

FCJ Refugee Centre had a relevant presence in the Support, Empower, Access (SEA) Summit for the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (February 22nd), hosted by the Association for New Canadians (ANC) in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Jovana Blagovcanin, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Anti-Human Trafficking Manager, together with Varka Kalaydzhieva, Program Director at Collaborative Network to End Exploitation, presented on exploitation of migrant workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). They opened and closed their presentation with two poems from migrant worker and advocate Gabriel Allahdua.

Jovana and Varka facilitated the Migrant Worker Exercise with participants across different sectors, including law enforcement, service providers and mental health professionals, to provide an overview of a migrant worker’s experience in Canada through a role-playing activity.

Participants played the roles of migrant workers, where they were given identifications and short biographies of workers, and went through the process of recruitment, border crossing, and working and living on a farm while highlighting the systemic issues that workers face including abuse, exploitation and limited resources for support.

Participants heard first hand testimonies from migrant workers about the various abuses they faced in the TFWP. Then, Jovana and Varka led a discussion about the options each participant/worker had after experiencing abuse and exploitation, the benefits and shortcomings of each of these options, and the possible final outcomes to highlight how these options are often dead ends.

It was a successful event that allowed FCJ and the Collaborative Network to End Exploitation to highlight that Canada has systems in place that facilitate exploitation but are not widely considered human trafficking. We were able to advocate for the end to closed work permits and Status for All, while considering how we can collaborate to work within a Do No Harm principle and anti-oppressive approach.

February 22nd is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, since it was proclaimed by the federal government, in 2020.

The crime of Trafficking in Persons was added to the Canadian Criminal Code in 2005, less than 20 years ago. The law criminalizes forced organ removal, forced marriage, indentured servitude, labour exploitation, and sexual exploitation. These crimes are commonly known as human trafficking.

Trafficking exploitation exist in many forms and usually entails victims being caused to provide sexual services or labour through force, coercion, deception and/or abuse of trust, power or authority.

Human trafficking therefore results in substantial physical, psychological, and emotional trauma to the victims.

Human trafficking is still happening in Canada, and continues to take advantage of systemic issues such as poverty, inequity, and legislation focused on prosecuting criminals, as opposed to empowering communities and supporting survivors.

On this Human Trafficking Awareness Day we are focusing on labour trafficking, an especially underreported and unnoticed crime.

How do labour exploitation and labour trafficking look like?

In a society where hundreds silently endure the chains of labour exploitation and trafficking, it’s crucial to shed light on their harsh realities. See the images in the following gallery to know the common indicators faced by vulnerable workers, as we strive to recognize, understand, and break the chains binding them.

Click on the images to enlarge them and access the gallery

How do labour trafficking exploitative practices look like?

Knowing about the harsh truths of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the next sequence shows exploitative practices affecting countless workers. From physical and financial abuse to psychological and other forms of exploitation, there is an urgent need for justice and policy changes. See the images in the following gallery to know the depths of these issues.

Click on the images to enlarge them and access the gallery

What are the stages of labour trafficking?

Unveiling the dark stages of labour trafficking: recruitment, control, and forced labour. See the images in the following gallery to understand the journey from promising dreams to the tight grip of exploitation and trafficking. At the recruitment stage, individuals are often attracted to false promises of better opportunities and a brighter future for themselves and their families. Dishonest practices, such as altered job details and misleading predetermined agreements, open the door to exploitation. Also, many end up trapped in debt, forced to pay high fees for getting a job and traveling, making them stuck in a cycle of control and dependency that does not seem to have the option to leave. Action is urgently needed, let’s join to break the cycle, offer support, empower survivors, and work towards a society free from forced labour.

Click on the images to enlarge them and access the gallery

You can help fight human trafficking by staying informed and informing others about the extent of the problem. Get the facts and talk about it:

• Stay Awake Campaign: A dedicated initiative spotlighting human trafficking among precarious migrant youth. Through this campaign, we adopt an intersectional lens, addressing the intertwined vulnerabilities and oppressions faced by migrant youth. See the whole campaign here.
• A Call For Action to End Human Trafficking – How Collaboration Can Lead to Solutions: As a part of the annual Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network hosted a hybrid forum to raise awareness and address the root causes of the ever growing labour trafficking issue in Canada. You can watch it here.
• The reality of labour exploitation and uprooted people: How does human trafficking impact precarious status migrants and where does it take place? What support is available for migrants who have been trafficked? Executive Director of FCJ Refugee Centre, Loly Rico; and Anti-Human Trafficking Manager of FCJ, Jovana Blagovcanin, share their insights, experience and knowledge about this topic on an episode of Freedom Fighters: Code Gray, at Rogers TV. Watch it here.
• FCJ representatives speak about human trafficking before the House of Commons: Two FCJ Refugee Centre representatives, Jovana Blagovcanin, Anti-Human Trafficking Manager, and Chiara Rossi, Anti-Human Trafficking – Women Coordinator, participated as witnesess in a House of Commons’ meeting on Human Trafficking of Women, Girls and Gender Diverse People, in the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Watch it here.
• Human Trafficking news and events on the FCJ Refugee Centre website.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be a victim of forced labour or sex please contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010.

The Youth Alliance Against Human Trafficking would like to introduce a new edition of the #StayAwakeCampaign.

The #StayAwakeCampaign is a dedicated initiative spotlighting human trafficking among precarious migrant youth. Through this campaign, we adopt an intersectional lens, addressing the intertwined vulnerabilities and oppressions faced by migrant youth.

We’ll focus on:

• Understanding human trafficking: Demystifying myths and presenting the stark realities.
• The Canadian context: Highlighting local statistics and the prevalence of trafficking in Canada.
• Diverse exploitation forms: Discussing both sex trafficking and labor exploitation, revealing the multifaceted nature of this crime.
• The reality of international students life in Canada
• Creativity and healing

Join us in this pivotal movement. Together, we can raise awareness, educate, and combat Human Trafficking.

• Daily updates will be posted in the Stay Awake Campaign 2023 main page.
• You can also follow the campaign on the FCJ Youth Network Instagram acount.

Check here to see the content of the 2022 campaign »

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be a victim of forced labour or sex please contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010.