Alleged mistreatment of temporary foreign workers in Quebec prompts calls for change

The Immigrant Workers Centre is calling for the end of closed work permits after allegations of abuse of foreign temporary workers at Quebec seniors homes.

The Immigrant Workers Centre based in Montreal is calling on provincial and federal governments to make changes to the temporary foreign worker’s program after recent allegations of abuse and exploitation of employees in Quebec seniors homes.

Orderlies spoke to media about their experience during a Sunday morning press conference. Global News is not using their names to protect their identities.

One worker described his time working at Villa mon Domaine in Lévis, Que. as a “nightmare.” He claims he faced harassment, threats of deportation and was paid just $100 every two weeks for 10 months.

Last month, an investigation by Le Devoir reported similar allegations by temporary foreign workers employed at the residence.

The Immigrant Workers Centre says the worker’s allegations are shared by many immigrants working in private seniors residences and long-term care homes known as CHSLDs.

“It’s a result of this system of temporary foreign work and close work permit within which the employees are tied to an employer and don’t have the very fundamental freedom to choose who they will work for,” explained Raphaël Laflamme, a community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre.

A female orderly present at the news conference said her experience made her feel like a “slave.” At her job in the province’s Outaouais region, she claims she worked for less than $10 an hour and was obliged to do whatever her employer told her.

“Sometimes I was feeling sick because it was very terrible,” she told Global News.