Blog
An essential reflection workshop on migrant work 

Reflection, solidarity and union commitment to equal rights 

Canada often presents itself as a welcoming destination for immigrants. But behind the slogans and statistics lies a different reality, one experienced by thousands of migrant workers who labor in our fields, factories, kitchens and hospitals. These are essential workers, yet they are often treated as second-class citizens. 

To shed light on these realities and better equip the labour movement to respond, the Québec Federation of Labour (QFL) recently hosted a day-and-a-half-long reflection workshop on migrant work. A delegation from the Service Employees’ Union, Local 800 (SEU 800) actively participated, reaffirming our commitment to fully representing our members, including many migrant workers. 

“At SEU 800, a worker is a worker. When we focus on working conditions, there is no reason why these employees should be treated as second-class workers.” 

Marie Deschênes, Executive Vice-President, SEU 800 

Theoretical rights, real insecurity 

As the presentations and discussions progressed, one thing became clear: Canadian immigration policies actively create precarity. Whether they are temporary foreign workers, asylum seekers or undocumented individuals, these workers all face a shared structural vulnerability. 

And the trend is accelerating. The number of people with temporary immigration status in Canada rose from 132,105 in 2019 to 215,665 in 2023, an increase of more than 60 percent in just five years. This rapid growth is reshaping the labour market and raising urgent questions about inclusion, unionization and social justice. 

Especially when bound to a single employer by a closed work permit, denied access to public services or threatened with deportation for speaking out, these individuals live and work in constant fear. That fear often prevents them from organizing or claiming their most basic rights. 

Better support, better integration 

But things can change. The conversations also brought forward practical solutions, particularly from employers and unions. Providing tailored support not only promotes better integration, but also helps create more stable and humane workplaces. 

“We must not forget that migrant workers face particular challenges. In addition to being workers and parents, they often provide financial support to family members back home. With targeted support tailored to their needs, employers will have employees who are better integrated and better equipped to fully participate in the workplace.”

Judith Giguère, Director of Development, Formation de base pour le développement de la main-d’œuvre (FBDM) 

Expanding union solidarity 

For SEU 800, this training reaffirmed that union solidarity must not end at the borders of immigration status. It must include all those who, day after day, help build our economy, often in the shadows. As a union, it is our role to support them, defend their rights and fight for policies that fully recognize their humanity and contributions. 

It also underlines the importance of the francization work carried out at SEU 800, which aims to reduce language barriers and break the isolation experienced by workers far from their cultural and family roots. Access to language means access to their rights, to dignity and to full participation in union life. 

This work is far from over, but it is more necessary than ever.