BSL Regional Workers Committee

PRESS RELEASE, 14 APRIL 2025 – “We did not come here to become slaves”

- Voix de solidarité pour les victimes d’une agence de recrutement et de placement IRIS Inc. -   Rimouski, April 14, 2025 - Following the revelations published in Le Devoir on April 09[1] and 10[2], 2025 concerning the abuse experienced by migrant workers with the employee recruitment and placement agency Iris Inc. the Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants (CTTI) and 6 signatory groups from Bas-Saint-Laurent wish to show our... Read more →

Workshop Alert: Navigating Work Permit Changes in Canada

The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) is hosting an educational workshop to guide migrant workers through the work permit change process in Canada. This free session will clarify procedures, rights, and key steps for those seeking to modify their work permits. Details: Registration Required (Link: https://bit.ly/WorkPermitWorkshop) Exclusively for Migrant Workers Virtual Participation (Link sent upon registration) Important Note: This is a public education workshop and does not replace legal advice. Attendees with complex cases are encouraged to consult a... Read more →

Nothing Moves Without Us! Rimouski on December 18th 2024

  On December 18, as part of the national day of action “A Day Without Migrants: Nothing Moves Without Us”, we got together with our allies to send letters to the ministers of Quebec and Canada denouncing the latest immigration policies. In 2024, many government announcements focused almost exclusively on reducing the number of migrants and immigrants, without providing any protection measures for those already on the territory. As a... Read more →

(IWC-CTI) Amplifies Advocacy Amid Policy Changes

December 18, 2024 In response to recent immigration policy shifts in Quebec, the Immigrant Workers Center (IWC-CTI) has intensified its advocacy efforts, highlighting the challenges faced by migrant workers and temporary residents. Policy Changes and Community Response On November 3, 2024, the Quebec government announced a moratorium on two permanent immigration programs: the Regular Skilled Worker Program and the Graduate Stream of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This suspension, effective... Read more →

Temporary Foreign Worker Programme: Abolish the ‘closed’ permit instead of punishing the victims!

Montreal, 26 September 2024. - Faced with the entry into force of new restrictions on the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP), 54 community, trade union, university, student and advocacy organisations and groups are protesting against the deleterious effects of the measures taken against temporary foreign workers. Instead of improving access to fundamental and labour rights for migrants and immigrants, the measures taken recently and for over a year now have... Read more →

Restriction affecting temporary foreign workers in Quebec

Download flyer herei: Restrictions.pdf

Quebec court gives green light to explosive class action against abusive work permits.

In a landmark victory for workers' rights, the Quebec Superior Court has approved a lawsuit denouncing the exploitative system of closed work permits in Canada. Temporary foreign workers, bound by contracts to specific employers, are fighting against conditions that trample on their most fundamental rights. Led by the Domestic and Agricultural Workers Rights Association, the case alleges widespread Charter violations, including widespread abuse, underpayment and harassment. This legal battle could... Read more →

Quebec strengthens measures to reduce accidents among foreign workers

In response to the increase in workplace accidents involving foreign workers, the Quebec government has recently announced additional funding to improve their safety at work. This initiative aims to enhance preventive measures and provide increased support to these vulnerable workers. According to statistics, the number of foreign workers injured on the job is constantly increasing. In response, Quebec is seeking solutions to improve the working conditions of these temporary employees,... Read more →

Revision of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program: A Human Rights Priority

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), essential for addressing labor shortages, has significant human rights shortcomings. A recent report by Le Devoir highlights the urgent need to reform this program to prioritize human rights. Working Conditions and Workers' Rights Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) often face poor working conditions, including excessive hours, low wages, and lack of healthcare access. Their precarious status makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, with a... Read more →

Undocumented immigrants don’t just live in Montreal, say Lower St. Lawrence organizations

Several organizations held a rally this Monday morning in front of the post office on rue Saint-Germain Ouest in Rimouski, to call for the abolition of temporary work permits and for a comprehensive regularization program, led by the Immigrant Workers Centre chapter of Bas Saint Laurent. "As part of International Migrants Day, we're flooding federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller's office with postcards signed by the people of the Lower St.... Read more →

MOBILIZING FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WAREHOUSES

MOBILIZING FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WAREHOUSES Over recent years, the warehousing sector has experienced significant growth, and the trend was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly thanks to the rise of e-commerce. Faced with this reality, the Groupe interuniversitaire et interdisciplinaire de recherche sur l'emploi, la pauvreté et la protection sociale (GIREPS), the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) and the Temporary Agency Workers Association (TAWA-ATTAP) launched a research project... Read more →

Public Sector Workers in Quebec Announce Another Week-long Strike Amidst Stalled Negotiations

Front Commun, Representing Over 400,000 Workers, Declares Strike from Dec. 8-14 By Taqwa Mohamed-Mahdi In a show of collective strength, hundreds of thousands of public sector workers in Quebec are gearing up for a week-long strike in December as contract negotiations with the provincial government hit an impasse. The Front Commun, a coalition of four major public sector unions representing around 420,000 members in health, education, and social services, made... Read more →

“Trudeau must keep his promise”: organizations call for regularization of undocumented migrants

Some thirty Quebec community and labor organizations mobilized in Montreal, Quebec City and Rimouski on Saturday to call for a program to regularize undocumented migrants. The 38 organizations are calling for the "immediate" implementation of an "inclusive" program to regularize undocumented migrants, as well as an end to the deportation and detention of migrants who have no immigration status. Read event reports (in French): Trudeau doit tenir sa promesse»: des... Read more →