WorkSafeNB aims to reduce language barriers for foreign workers
CBC
A group that helps immigrants and temporary foreign workers in New Brunswick is applauding an effort by WorkSafeNB to inform newcomers of their rights and responsibilities related to workplace safety.
But they also say the language barrier is only part of the issue.
About two months after a lobster plant on the Acadian Peninsula received a hefty fine for mistreating foreign workers, WorkSafeNB CEO Tim Petersen highlighted some new resources in a commentary published online this week.
"We acknowledge that these workers may face challenges in the workplace, making it essential to equip them with the knowledge and tools for a safe working environment," he wrote.
The resources include a web page, social media campaign and pamphlets in Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese, besides the usual English and French.
WorkSafe wants everyone to have a good understanding of workplace safety and the proactive steps they can take to protect themselves, Petersen said.
This includes the right to refuse unsafe work, participate in health and safety discussions and gain access to information and training.
"We understand the challenges posed by language barriers, diverse health and safety expectations, and hesitancy to voice concerns at work," said Petersen.
"We're committed to removing these barriers and empowering individuals to actively participate in fostering safe and healthy workplaces."
WorkSafe is also involving employers, industry associations, settlement agencies and multicultural organizations, he said.
"This is absolutely a positive step forward … we're really happy about this," said Aditya Rao, of the Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre in Fredericton.
"This is really important information that needs to be available in multiple languages. It's certainly going to make a difference for workers to know that these rights exist," he said.
Rao said his group would definitely make use of the new resources and make sure people have access to them.
The pamphlets cover the languages that most of the workers in the province speak, he said, adding that most of the people the centre deals with speak Spanish or Tagalog, one of the languages of the Philippines.
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