<a href="https://iwc-cti.ca/news/">News</a>

Nov 15
Nov 13

Standing Up for Migrant Rights in the Face of Reduced Immigration Targets

The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) continues to advocate for justice and dignity for migrants amidst mounting concerns over Canada's reduced immigration targets. Recent press coverage highlights the urgent challenges faced by migrant workers as policies tighten, putting countless individuals already living and working in the country in increasingly precarious situations.... Read more →
Nov 08
Nov 07
Nov 03
Sep 24
Sep 24
Sep 16

Quebec Court Greenlights Explosive Class Action Against Abusive Work Permits

In a historic win for workers' rights, Quebec’s Superior Court has approved a lawsuit exposing Canada’s exploitative system of closed work permits. Temporary foreign workers, trapped under contracts with specific employers, are fighting back against conditions that trample on their most basic rights. Led by the Association for the Rights... Read more →
Aug 13

Amazon Workers in Quebec, Victory for Union Rights!

The Quebec Labour Tribunal has ruled in favor of the union at Amazon's Lachine distribution centre, ordering Amazon to pay $30,000 in damages for obstructing union efforts in May 2023. The tribunal found that Amazon's anti-union messages, spread throughout the workplace, violated workers' rights under Quebec Labour Code. This decision... Read more →
Aug 08
Jul 25

Towards a First Collective Agreement at Amazon

Félix et Denis, Syndicat des travailleurs d'Amazon
On July 23, 2024, a historic milestone was reached for the employees of the Amazon DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Quebec. The negotiation committee of the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval–CSN presented a proposal for the first collective agreement to the employees. This initiative marks a significant milestone in... Read more →
Jul 16

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... Read more →
Jun 29
Jun 12

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... Read more →
May 30

Massive Anti-War Protests in Ottawa Against CANSEC 2024

On May 29, the Migrant Workers Center ( IWC-CTI) partnered with numerous community organizations across Canada to support the massive anti-war protests in Ottawa against CANSEC 2024, Canada’s largest defense and security trade show. The protests, fueled by the ongoing conflict in Palestine, targeted companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing... Read more →
May 25
May 23
May 16

Action Alert: Demand Permanent Residency for Undocumented Workers

The time is now to hold Prime Minister Trudeau accountable to his promise of regularization – granting permanent resident status for undocumented individuals. Despite assurances from the federal government earlier this Spring, Parliament is set to go on holiday as early as June 6, leaving us with unanswered questions and... Read more →
May 07

Ensuring Fair Treatment: The Reality of Foreign Worker Programs in Canada

In a nation priding itself on fairness and inclusivity, recent revelations regarding violations within Canada's temporary foreign worker programs have sparked concern. The federal government's crackdown on nearly 200 companies for infractions ranging from wage theft to workplace abuse underscores the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability. According to... Read more →
May 06

Mayworks Festival: Celebrating Worker Victories and Cultural Solidarity

Our annual Mayworks Festival celebrates our yearly victories for our various campaigns lead by our workers councils and committees across Quebec. This year we shared the cultural stage with the International Migrants Alliance and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. We started the evening with presentations from... Read more →
May 02

Canada is scaling back temporary foreign workers. Critics say the program needs an overhaul

  In a recent interview, Jill Hanley, Vice President of the Montreal-based Immigrant Workers Centre, shed light on the challenges faced by migrant workers in Canada, particularly in light of the country's evolving policies regarding temporary foreign workers. As Canada prepares to implement new rules aimed at scaling back temporary... Read more →
Apr 25
Apr 22
Apr 16
Apr 13
Mar 18

Voices of the Immigrant Workers’ Centre

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS In 2007, Montreal-based garment manufacturer Lamour prepared to shutter its Canadian production activities, gradually laying off nearly 500 of its employees to circumvent labour legislation that would force the company to pay collective layoff benefits. Over 2007 and 2008, Lamour workers and community organizers at the Immigrant... Read more →
Feb 29

Migrants in need of help

We are fundraising for a group of migrants that were victims of labour traffick in Canada and they were unable to leave while immigration is processing their cases. This group of workers have been mobilizing and organizing themselves since July to find solutions to what the group was living in... Read more →
Feb 29
Feb 24
Feb 07

Essential Work, Disposable Workers with Mostafa Henaway

*Le français suit. In collaboration with Fernwood Publishing, Solidarity across borders and the Immigrant Worker Centre (IWC), the Social Justice Centre presents a book panel on “Essential Work, Disposable Workers” by Mostafa Henaway at the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation on Feb 7 from 6-8 pm. Mostafa Henaway is a former graduate fellow of... Read more →
Jan 11

IWC Annual Report 2022-2023

This activity report covers the period from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The activities described below summarize the center's involvement in a wide range of issues and situations facing workers. The number of workers coming to us, and their participation in workshops and campaigns, continues to grow. What's... Read more →
Dec 19
Dec 19

Migrants Rally on International Migrant Day, Demanding Immediate Regularization

Today on International Migrant Day, and it has been two years since Prime Minister Trudeau promised a comprehensive regularization program for undocumented migrants. Today, migrants demanded regularization! Over 150 migrants, including those who are non-status, those with precarious status, and migrant workers, delivered over 400 letters by those directly effected... Read more →
Dec 18

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... Read more →
Dec 14
Dec 04

Media Coverage Highlights Critical Report on Dollarama and Amazon Warehouses in Montreal

In an exclusive study, researchers shed light on the challenging working conditions within the Montreal warehouses of Dollarama and Amazon. This report, conducted by the Interuniversity and Interdisciplinary Research Group on Employment, Poverty, and Social Protection (GIREPS), the Center for Immigrant Workers (CTTI), and the Association of Agency Workers (ATTAP),... Read more →
Dec 02

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... Read more →
Nov 28

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... Read more →
Nov 17

Broken Promises and Exploitation of Foreign Workers in Canada

A group of foreign workers in Montreal, lured under false promises, now faces an uphill battle in obtaining work permits. Initially assured of a fast-tracked process by the federal Immigration Department, only seven out of a hundred applications were approved, prompting Ottawa to rescind its offer last week. Now, these... Read more →
Nov 06
Nov 03

Migrants made scapegoats by Quebec and Canadian immigration policies

PRESS RELEASE Migrants made scapegoats by Quebec and Canadian immigration policies Montreal, November 2, 2023. - The Quebec and Canadian governments have announced their immigration plans, specifying immigration thresholds for the coming years. Putting the thresholds on hold, while ignoring the hundreds of thousands of temporary foreign workers, asylum seekers... Read more →
Nov 02

IWC-CTI stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people

The Immigrant Workers Centre stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people The Immigrant Workers Center strongly condemns the war crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza, including the unscrupulous murder of thousands of civilians and the massive deportation pressure that has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We... Read more →
Nov 01
Oct 26

“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... Read more →
Oct 12
Oct 07

Two years since the adoption of PL59

Two years of workplace health and safety demolition Despite the interim regime that has been in force for 18 months, what we are seeing on the ground in workplaces is that the implementation of this reform is tedious ultimately allowing for the enforcement of the minimal obligations stipulalted for by... Read more →
Oct 05
Oct 05

Migrant workers launch campaign and class action lawsuit

The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) and a group of migrant workers will discuss the situation thatgave rise to a class action lawsuit that was filed this morning. The IWC and the workers aresuing a placement agency operating under the name Trésor and its client company Newrest, amultinational that provides catering... Read more →
Oct 03
Oct 01

Exploited workers

Hundreds of foreign workers, lured to Montreal by false promises, are allegedly being dangerously and illegally exploited in the factories of Newrest, a multinational food company. This is the allegation in a class-action petition filed in Superior Court today by the Immigrant Workers Centre. A Radio-Canada news report by Sophie... Read more →
Sep 08

IN SEARCH OF AN INCLUSIVE QUEBEC …

Brief submitted by CTI-IWC to the Commission des relations avec les citoyens as part of the General Consultation on the consultation workbook entitled: La planification de l'immigration au Québec pour la période 2024-2027 (in French only) Main points of the brief Our brief begins by presenting our own analyses of... Read more →
Aug 19
Jul 25
Jul 20
Jun 27
Jun 25
Jun 08
Jun 06

28 Organizations Demand Regularization of Undocumented Migrants

Twenty-eight Quebec community organizations and unions have joined forces to call for the rapid implementation of a truly inclusive regularization program for undocumented migrants, as have hundreds of organizations supporting this cause across Canada. The signatory organizations particularly deplore the delay in implementing the program, at a time when immigration... Read more →
May 25
May 22

Minimum18$ Coalition

Minimum18$ - « Maintenir les travailleuses et les travailleurs au salaire minimum dans la pauvreté : quel choix consternant ! » As part of the consultations on the draft regulation modifying the minimum wage, the Minimum18$ coalition, of which the SFPQ is a member, is tabling an opinion today on... Read more →
May 22

Montreal Amazon’s Workers Committee

Montreal Amazon’s Workers Committee The Amazon warehouse workers committee brings together former and current Amazon workers, with the support of the Immigrant Workers Centre to create a space for workers to discuss the range of issues workers face. Whether it be health and safety, basic labour rights and wages, or... Read more →
May 22

ABOUT Women’s Committee

The TAWA Women's Committee aims to shed light on the specific issues that women with precarious immigration status face in the workplace. The Committee is fighting for the regularization of immigration status, access to healthcare, and access to justice for all. Origins of the TAWA Women's Committee   In 2014,... Read more →
May 21
May 21
May 20
May 15

Striving for Equality: Ensuring Basic Labor Protections for Immigrant Workers in Québec

By: Isaac Patroulis Lessig In January, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced new guidelines to shield migrant workers “who experience or witness workplace labor or civil rights violations” from deportation or a loss of work status. The protective measure marks a positive step towards the empowerment of... Read more →
May 11
May 11
May 11
May 11
May 11
May 11

TAWA Women’s Committee (TAWA-WC)

<h4><em>The TAWA Women's Committee aims to shed light on the specific issues that women with precarious immigration status face in the workplace. The Committee is fighting for the regularization of immigration status, access to healthcare, and access to justice for all.</em></h4> <h1>Origins of the TAWA Women's Committee</h1> <img class="alignleft wp-image-5778... Read more →
May 01

Raising awareness among migrants about the precariousness of work in the agricultural sector

Our recent festival, on May 1 Labor Day was celebrating immigrant workers struggles organized by the IWC. The festival filled with music, songs, theatrical performances and video screenings, showcased the experiences of agricultural workers and highlighted the need for continued support and awareness. A report by Journal Métro underscores the... Read more →
Apr 03

Akwesasne “not an isolated case”: non-status immigrants cry out

At the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC), our mission is to advocate for the rights and well-being of migrant workers, regardless of their status. A recent report by TVA Nouvelles high lights the urgent need for regularization and fair treatment of undocumented immigrants in Canada, emphasizing the importance of our work... Read more →
Mar 08

Women’s Day: Undocumented migrant women aspire to live without fear

A recent report by Radio-Canada International, highlights the plight of undocumented female migrant workers in Canada and the importance of regularization for their well-being. The report, published on International Women's Day, shines a light on the struggles faced by female migrant workers who lack legal status in Canada. These women... Read more →
Oct 01
Sep 01
Jul 24

Benefit dinner for legal defense

Photos submitted by Raphaël Laflamme The IWC organized a dinner with music and a comedy show to raise funds for the legal defense of two migrant beneficiary applicants who have been made victims of human trafficking. After being deceived by their employer, the Villa Mon Domaine, under false pretenses of... Read more →
Jul 24

The status for all march: in photos

Photos submitted by Cheolki Yoon and Viviana Medina The Immigrant Workers' Centre and its members and allies mobilized for the Status for All March on July 17, 2022! We demand an inclusive and comprehensive regularization program that includes all non-status people on Canadian soil, whatever their situation, whatever their year... Read more →
Jul 08

Status for All … AT LAST!

Montreal March for Status for All As the federal government is in the process of developing a regularization programme for undocumented migrants, precarious status migrants and their friends, neighbours and allies will march together to demand a full regularization programme for ALL. Sunday, 17 July 2022 2pm at Place Emilie... Read more →
Jun 28
Apr 01
Mar 04

$18 minimum wage campaign

Minimum18$ - « Maintenir les travailleuses et les travailleurs au salaire minimum dans la pauvreté : quel choix consternant ! » As part of the consultations on the draft regulation modifying the minimum wage, the Minimum18$ coalition, of which the SFPQ is a member, is tabling an opinion today on... Read more →
Oct 25

PRESS RELEASE – QUEBEC, October 25, 2021

For immediate release "He touched me and there was nothing I could do" Women without immigration status want to be able to file a complaint against their employers QUEBEC CITY, October 25, 2021 - Harassed and threatened by a co-worker for several weeks to the point of contemplating ending her... Read more →
Aug 05

Cuisines Collectives Interculturelles

Dialogue, Rapprochement et Action Collective Le Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants (CTI) a été fondé en 1999 à Montréal et poursuit aujourd’hui son travail dans plusieurs villes du Québec. Le projet des « Cuisines collectives interculturelles » (CCI) émerge d’un long processus de réflexion et d’action qui remonte aux... Read more →
Jul 24

Notes du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants (CTI) à l’égard de La planification de l’immigration au Québec pour la période 2020-2022

Volume de l’immigration Compte tenu de l’évolution démographique, notamment provenant du vieillissement de la population et de la retraite des baby-boomers prévue dans les années 2020, il y a une nécessité économique de l’augmentation du volume de l’immigration. Plus profondément, en tant que constituante du monde globalisée, le Québec a... Read more →
Jun 24
Jun 10
Jun 08

Resolution Demanding the Protection of Human Rights at Dollarama: Press Conference Faced with the Resolution Submitted by the BCGEU to the Dollarama Shareholders’ Annual General Meeting

Montreal, June 8, 2021. – To the Dollarama shareholders’ annual general meeting, scheduled for June 9th, a resolution has been submitted by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU). The resolution stresses the need to insure the human rights of workers and requests that “Dollarama prepare a report... Read more →
May 03

Guide for Temporary Migrant Workers and Case Workers in Quebec

Download: Guide for Temporary Migrant Workers and Case Workers in Quebec The production of this material was financially supported by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (MES) through the Fonds des services aux collectivités program. The production also received support from the Canada Research Chairs Program and funding from Université du... Read more →
Feb 22

Pour Montréal « responsable et engagée » : appuyant la Motion à soutenir la régularisation des personnes sans statut légal vivant sur son territoire

Montréal, le 22 février 2021. La Motion visant à soutenir la régularisation des personnes sans statut égal vivant sur son territoire, proposée par Mme Giuliana Fumagalli et appuyée par M. Marvin Rotrand, sera discutée aujourd’hui au Conseil de la Ville de Montréal. Des organisations oeuvrant auprès des personnes à statut... Read more →
Feb 11
Feb 09
Feb 05
Jan 26
Jan 20
Dec 24
Dec 12

Precarious Immigrant Workers Respond to Legault’s Policy Trainwreck: The Coalition Against Precarious Work Ask Legault Listen to Their Demands

MONTREAL, December 12, 2020: The coalition against Precarious Work invites media to an online press conference. Workers will present their misgivings about current policies and demands related to workplace health and safety and immigration policy. Online Press Conference: 11 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020 Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sfuCtqDkjHNQ1udMxnibXZbocmT_WIaeF Campaign Launch event:... Read more →
Dec 01
Dec 01