During the week of September 22, people across Canada are coming together to demand change. We believe that all workers, regardless of where they come from, should be treated with dignity and have their rights respected.
This is not the reality that many migrant workers in Canada face. Although migrant workers carry out essential work in agriculture, care, hospitality, construction, and many other industries, they are not treated the same as Canadians doing this work. Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), people cannot freely change their employer, even if they are being mistreated and abused. They are trapped by their closed work permit!
This would never be accepted for Canadians, and it should not be accepted for anyone.
Days of Action
During the week of September 22, migrant workers, activists, grassroots organizers, unions, and human rights organizations are taking action across the country to call for an end to closed work permits, which trap workers by limiting their ability to freely change their employer. Instead, we are calling on the government to grant workers open permits.
The goals of the days of action are to:
- Increase awareness among the public of the need to reform the TFWP, so that all workers in Canada can enjoy the basic right to choose and change their employer
- Pressure the government to abolish closed work permits and instead grant all workers open work permits
- Gather signatures for our petition, so the government knows that people across the country are demanding change
What can you do
Join an event taking place during the Days of Action. This page will be updated frequently as additional events are planned – please reach out to activism@amnesty.ca to have your event added to the list:
Ottawa: Wednesday, September 17 at 6 PM: Film screening of My Friend Omar at the Amnesty Ottawa Offices.
Monday, September 22 at 6 PM: symbolic action on Parliament Hill. Stay tuned for more details
Plan your own event during the week of September 22
There are so many ways to get involved, spread the word, and make your voice heard. For all events, be sure to include an action that people can take to let the government know that they are demanding change. It can be as simple as having people sign the online petition, writing letters to the government, or calling your MP.
We are hoping that events can be planned during the days of action for a coordinated, cross-country effort, but these events can also be planned at any time!
Please reach out to activism@amnesty.ca for support and to tell us about your event, so that we can promote it!
You can:
Plan a film screening of My Friend Omar
My Friend Omar unveils the persistent abuses that migrant workers experience and highlights Omar’s fight for justice in a system that makes so many workers invisible.
Invite friends, family, and community members to watch the documentary with you and encourage them to sign the petition or write to their MP after watching the movie. The film screening can be as big or small as you’d like – you can invite people over to watch it with you, or plan a larger event at a community centre, school, or place of worship.
For more information on how to host a film screening, including how to access the film, how to promote the event, sample discussion questions and information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, please access the discussion guide here.
Host a petitioning/tabling event in your community
Pick a busy spot within your community (parks, farmers’ markets, community events, etc.) and set up a table with information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and gather signatures for the petition. See the resources section for resources you can use at the table, including a print petition, briefing note, and a document that suggests some key points to highlight in letters to the government.
Creative activism
Come up with your own creative or artistic way to raise awareness, engage with groups and collectives in your area, and inspire others to take action. Possibilities include postering in your neighbourhood, hosting an informational webinar at your school, creating a participatory mural of why people want open work permits, etc.
Examples of actions that people can take at your event
- Sign the petition: people can sign the online petition or download a print version of the petition (see below in “resources”)
- Write a letter to their MP: an example of what to include in a letter can be found in “resources” below.
- Call your MP to:
- Express concern about the abuses that migrant workers face in the TFWP
- Tell them you expect Canada to respect the rights of ALL workers
- Call on them to abolish closed work permits and ensure that everyone has the right to choose and change their employer
The following document contains a sample script and some responses to some frequently asked questions: Call your MP Guide
Resources
Background on the TWP
CLICK HERE for more information on Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including testimony from workers, an overview of the program and the rights abuses that workers are subjected to, Amnesty’s research report, Amnesty’s reports on migrant workers in other countries, and frequently asked questions.
