On October 6, the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) took part in a rally outside the offices of the CNESST at Complexe Desjardins in Montreal, marking five years since Quebec’s occupational health and safety reform came into force.
The mobilization brought together members of the CSD, CSN, CSQ, FTQ and UTTAM, along with organizations defending workers’ rights. Their message was clear: the review of the 2021 reform must not be reduced to a purely administrative exercise. It should be used to address setbacks in the application of the previous law and to strengthen workers’ rights to prevention, compensation, and recognition of workplace injuries and occupational illnesses.
The mobilization comes as the new government is expected to review the reform this fall. The law requires the Minister of Labour to present a report on how it has been implemented and whether its provisions should be maintained or amended.
For the Immigrant Workers Centre, this issue is especially important for non-unionized, migrant and temporary workers, many of whom work in warehouses, factories, cleaning, restaurants and other sectors where injuries and difficult working conditions are common.
The IWC is particularly concerned that, in practice, non-unionized workers are still denied meaningful participation in workplace prevention, despite what the law says. In workplaces without a union, there are very rarely prevention representatives who are properly elected and genuinely trusted by workers.
Without reliable representatives who are protected from retaliation, even a basic right such as the right to refuse dangerous work can become little more than a right on paper. A worker may know that the law gives them this right and still be afraid to use it because of the risk of retaliation or losing their job.
Health and safety must not depend on a worker’s immigration status, type of employment, or whether there is a union in the workplace.
Everyone should be able to feel like a full citizen, even during working hours, and return home from work safe and in good health.
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