Canada must stop exploiting migrant workers

In an opinion piece for Policy Options, Milad Moghaddas explains that the systemic abuse plaguing programs such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) are largely the result of Canadian immigration and labour policy. Milad argues that protecting migrant workers from abuse and exploitation requires a shift to a rights-based framework, which would also benefit the Canadian economy overall. He maps out four policy directions for achieving this transition.

Milad Moghaddas is a Ph.D. student in organizational behaviour and human resources management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Citation

Moghaddas, M. (2026). Canada must stop exploiting migrant workers. Policy Options. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/protect-migrant-workers-canada/

Excerpt

Here are four evidence-based policy directions we need right now:

1. Replace employer-specific work permits with open or sector-specific permits.
2. Establish clear, accessible pathways to permanent residency for all migrant workers.
3. Invest meaningfully in labour inspection and enforcement.
4. Integrate migrant-worker representation into federal policy consultations.

A rights-based framework is not a radical proposition; it is a practical one that aligns with Canada’s values, international commitments, and long-term economic goals.

It’s not too late to build on our history as a successful immigrant-receiving country. Without immigrants, Canada’s economy would falter, revealing the contradiction at the heart of our system: we depend on migrant workers to keep the country running, yet deny many of them the rights and security they deserve.