Hon. Amina Gerba: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Moreau, according to a recent Radio-Canada documentary, thousands of agricultural temporary foreign workers are bound to a single employer through a closed work permit. This dependence makes them vulnerable to abuse and raises concerns about respect for their fundamental rights, particularly those under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This situation has persisted for years. What specific steps is the federal government taking to prevent these abuses and to allow affected workers to expose their employers without fear of losing their job or status in Canada?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Gerba.

The government takes the situation of temporary workers very seriously and is committed to ensuring that their rights are respected by employers. I had the opportunity to highlight this in my response to Senator Henkel’s question.

To help workers report abuse, which was the focus of your question, the government has established a confidential helpline that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number can easily be found online. It offers translation services in over 200 languages, reflecting the diverse countries of origin of temporary workers.

In addition, the government has introduced an open work permit for vulnerable workers who are victims of abuse or at risk of abuse in the course of their employment in Canada. This enables them to leave an abusive employer, seek new employment and safeguard their rights as workers.

Senator Gerba: I am happy to hear that.

The agricultural sector is proposing a sector-specific work permit that would allow workers to change employers while remaining within the sector. Is the government prepared to consider this change?

Senator Moreau: My answer to this sort of question is always the same. I cannot comment on upcoming legislation. However, the government has introduced a public policy that exempts some foreign workers who are already in Canada from certain requirements when they have to change jobs for the reasons that you mentioned. The employers who participate in worker programs may be subject to inspections and may be denied access to federal programs in cases of non-compliance.