Foreign worker abuse

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program can be of benefit to employers, employees and the local economy, but the federal government needs to be more diligent in guarding against abuse. The program has been in the spotlight recently with reports of alleged abuse of the TFW program by three McDonald’s restaurants in Victoria. An employee complained that foreign workers were given more shifts while Canadian workers had their hours reduced. He also said that Canadian applicants were rejected because Filipinos were being hired to fill available jobs. After the allegations were made public, Employment Minister Jason Kenney took quick action. An investigation was ordered and the company that held the three McDonald’s franchises had its applications for foreign workers suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.

McDonald’s Canada said it does not tolerate abuses and launched its own investigation. It took over the operation of the three restaurants from the franchisee.

The purpose of the foreign- worker program is to help employers who can’t find qualified Canadian workers to fill jobs. Businesses applying to bring in workers are required to present proof that they searched diligently within the country before they are given permission to import workers.

The TFW program allows for unannounced workplace inspections and access to employees. Ottawa should ensure the resources are in place to do that, and should not wait for whistleblowers to call attention to abuses, either of the foreign workers or of a program that is supposed to ensure Canadians have first crack at the jobs.