Bulletin
2025 Elections | Temporary foreign workers: same rights, same wages 

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Same job, same boss… but not the same rights? They harvest our food, clean our buildings, care for our loved ones… yet too often, they don’t have the same protections as the rest of us. That’s injustice. And it drags everyone down. 

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You work in a factory, a shop, a daycare, a hospital. A new colleague arrives, from Mexico, the Philippines, Haiti, or North Africa. They do the same job as you. Sometimes more. 

But they can’t change employers. They can be sent home at any moment. They often live in housing controlled by the boss, and they’re afraid to speak up, because one complaint could mean deportation. 

That’s not fair. Not for them. Not for us. 
Because when some workers are made more vulnerable, bosses use that to drive down conditions for everyone. 
 

A system built for abuse 

Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) programs, as they stand, serve business interests, not workers. Closed permits force TFWs to work for a single employer. No recourse. No mobility. 
In many cases, wages are lower, protections are nearly nonexistent, and living conditions are downright inhumane. 

Why this matters to us 

Because we fight for fairness and dignity at work. 

And there’s no such thing as fairness when some workers can be exploited without consequence. 

If we let employers divide us into two classes, those with rights, and those without, we all lose in the end.

What we want from the next government:  

• An end to closed work permits 
• Equal rights for all: wages, health and safety, leave, legal recourse 
• The right to unionize and to hange employers 
• A real path to permanent residency 

Where the parties stand on this issue: 

Legend:

No one should lose their rights because of where they come from. We don’t want TFWs to be used to replace us, or to put downward pressure on our conditions. We want to work together, with respect, under the same rules for everyone. 

Voting means being heard 

We often hear people say, “Voting doesn’t change anything.” But the truth is, government decisions have a real impact on our lives, on our wages, our public services, our pensions, our housing, our health… and our union rights. 

Not voting means letting others choose for us. 
Voting is saying: I want better for myself, my family, my workplace, and my community. 

 
Make sure you’re registered 

It’s quick, easy and essential if you want to vote. 
Head to elections.ca to: 

• Check your registration
• Find out wherte and when to vote
• See what ID you need to bring
• Register if you haven’t already

And if you know someone who isn’t registered or thinks they don’t have the right to vote, take a moment to share these resources. 

Every vote counts. Every voice matters.