Temporary foreign workers in B.C. push for more rights

Temporary foreign workers took to the streets in Vancouver over the weekend to push for more rights.

Rally-goers voiced their demands to the federal and provincial governments Sunday, dressed as fruits and vegetables to represent labour farm jobs.

They’re pushing governments to allow open work permits, to recognize undocumented workers, and to allow easier access to health services.

The people CityNews spoke with say they’re tired of being invisible.

“Sadly it’s a very common situation,” said Cecilia Moreno.

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She tells CityNews while her company originally hired her as a designer, she was put to work as a general labourer.

“I didn’t have payments for overtime. They abused and it is a very common situation,” Moreno explained, adding she worked long hours and in conditions which made her feel exploited and disposable.

“This is not our country, this is not our people, this is not our first language,” she said.

“I prefer to have rights,” added organizer Raul Gatica.

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He says migrant jobs lack safety regulations, with labour standards where human dignity aren’t respected.

“We have bad treatment because we had bad working conditions, because we are doing the jobs that no Canadians want to do,” he said.

According to Gatica, temporary foreign workers have closed work permits, which limit employment to a single employer. He says that can cause workers to be exploited.

“Because if an employer treats badly a worker, that worker can’t go and choose another employer who treats them better,” Gatica said.

CityNews reached out to the federal government for comment on this matter. However, it did not respond in time for broadcast.

The Government of Canada’s website says if a temporary foreign worker is being abused or is at risk of being abused at work, they can “apply for an open work permit for vulnerable workers.”

“An open work permit lets you change jobs by giving you permission to work for almost any employer in Canada,” the website explains.

Related video: Migrant worker advocates call on feds for expanded status for undocumented people

“We are looking for a better life for the immigrants — our rights are not the same as other residents or citizens,” said Daniel Concha, who moved to Canada from Chile two years ago.

He now lives in B.C. with his partner and baby.

“When I was working on a farm, I worked 15 hours every day, no day off. They never paid my overtime,” he recalled.

The B.C. government says “temporary foreign workers are covered by the Employment Standards Act and have additional protections under the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act.”

It adds employers must pay “time-and-a-half for each hour worked over 40 hours.”

“We are fighting for dignity as a person, as a worker, as a human being,” said Gatica.