Kitchener-Waterloo Area Forum

Friday, November 2019, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Ray Hope Community Centre, 659 King St. E. Kitchener, ON N2G 2M4 

Many migrant workers coming to Canada are subjected to labour trafficking and exploitation due to systemic shortfalls of the Canadian immigration and labour laws. The lack of viable pathways to permanent residency, work permits that tie workers to one employer, and the inability to form a union are among the many policies creating conditions for exploitation.

Migrant workers are routinely underpaid, overworked, abused and taken advantage of by employers, recruiters and landlords. In addition, migrant workers do not qualify for settlement or other support services, further inhibiting them from advocating for and demanding the protection of their rights.

The purpose of the forum is to:

  • Raise awareness among settlement, social service workers and other professionals about the issues related to migrant exploitation including policy gaps impeding the protection of their rights.
  • Share resources and establish collaboration among local community organizations to create a network of support for migrant workers.
  • Establish a network of migrant workers, community members, settlement workers and others to organize and advocate for the protection of migrant workers’ rights on local, provincial and federal level.

Local organizing partners:

Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre
Mobile Legal and Social Justice Initiative
Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support
Eliseo Martell

Thank you for your interest. This event has concluded.