The clinic is closing for the winter holidays! We will close our doors on December 16, 2024, and return on January 14, 2025. The Immigrant Workers' Centre's Legal Information Clinic provides information on immigration and labour law. The clinic is open Tuesday to Thursday, from 2pm to 6pm. Please note that there are no lawyers at the clinic, so we are not authorized to give you legal advice. If necessary,... Read more →
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. Reports from CityNews, Le Devoir, and CTV News emphasize the voices of community leaders and activists, including calls for a... Read more →
Montreal, November 8, 2024 - The Centre for Immigrant Workers invites you to a press conference to address the latest changes in immigration policy and the government’s false promise to implement a regularization program. In recent months, the Canadian and Quebec governments have implemented a restructuring of the Program for Temporary Foreign Workers, International Students and Asylum Seekers. The announced measures directly affect several precarious worker groups and will lead... Read more →
On October 15, a letter co-signed by several associations was sent to Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour, to denounce two major injustices faced by injured or sick workers: Compensation Below the Minimum Wage: Many victims are receiving compensation that does not follow the indexing of the minimum wage, leading to a significant loss of income. Impoverishment in Retirement: All victims of work-related injuries suffer financial hardship in retirement because the... Read more →
On Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 pm, a mobilization and march took place in rejection of the recent immigration policy changes. It was an event organized by the Québec Coalition for Regularization and Migrant Justice, a coalition of almost 50 organizations in Québec. CTTI is an active part of this coalition, organizing migrant workers and immigrants of all status to respond to the aforementioned policies and the abuses experienced for... Read more →
In January 2022, a Guatemalan temporary worker employed in a Quebec factory was physically assaulted by his employer. This incident not only exposed the abuses faced by foreign workers but also led to the worker losing his legal status due to the rigidity of closed work permits. He is now fighting to regain his status and calling for legislative reforms to protect temporary workers from such situations. Viviana Medina, a... Read more →
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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 of Domestic and Agricultural Workers, the case alleges rampant violations of the Charter, including widespread abuse, underpayment, and harassment. This... Read more →
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 is a significant win for our right to organize and protect our working conditions. Remember, no matter how big the... Read more →
By Carole Yerochewski In an interview with CBC and Reuters, Marc Miller announced some distressing news in the middle of summer, when it's hard to mobilize large numbers to protest: the Liberal government is backing down in the face of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, and is expected to examine a minimal regularization program, which will only concern workers in the health and construction sectors. We'll have to wait for Marc Miller's... Read more →
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 the unionization efforts within the company. The employees of the Laval warehouse voted in favor of unionization in May 2024,... Read more →
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 →
As Prime Day 2024 approaches, scheduled for July 16 and 17, Amazon workers in Montreal are raising the alarm about their working conditions and safety. While this massive sales event promises savings and exclusive deals for Prime members, warehouse employees feel increased pressure and growing concerns for their health and safety. According to a Global News article, workers in Montreal are worried about the heightened demands imposed by their employers... Read more →
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 →
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 for allegedly supplying arms to the Israeli army. Starting at the EY Center, protesters moved to Parliament Hill and the... Read more →
On May 25, 2024, Montreal was the scene of a major mobilization in support of the regularization of non-status immigrants. The event, reported by CBC TV, brought together thousands of demonstrators from diverse backgrounds, all united by a common cause: obtaining legal status for irregular immigrants. The march highlighted the challenges and injustices faced by these people, who are often marginalized and vulnerable due to their lack of legal status.... Read more →
This Saturday the Iwc-Cti and Solidarité sans frontière/Solidarity across border/Solidaridad sin frontera are organizing an emergency rally to ensure that the Liberal party commits to their promise to make a reality to finally implement a regularization program to give permanent status to all those without status or with precarious immigration status. It has been over 3 years since Trudeau has made this promise. Also last week, he again announced a... Read more →
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 unfulfilled commitments. Undocumented workers across Canada continue to live in uncertainty and fear, facing daily challenges without the basic rights... Read more →
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 The Globe and Mail, last year, Ottawa imposed record fines totaling $2.7 million, reflecting a firm stance against exploitation in... Read more →
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 our various workers' committees, such as the women's committee, the Tresor and Newrest former workers committee, the warehouse workers committee,... Read more →
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 foreign workers, Hanley underscores the importance of understanding the human impact of such decisions. Hanley's work brings her face-to-face with... Read more →
On May 1, 2024, as we observe International Workers' Day, our focus is on the theme "United for our working and living conditions." We extend a heartfelt invitation to join us in taking to the streets to address the escalating costs of living and the decline in our working conditions, social safety nets, and public services. With its recent reforms favoring employers, inclination towards privatization, and its stance on labor... Read more →
Today, Amazon workers in Laval, Quebec, ignite a revolutionary spark as they embark on the journey to form the first union in a Canadian Amazon warehouse. The Montreal Amazon Workers Union (MAWU-CSN) presents evidence to the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT), revealing a majority of DXT4 warehouse employees have signed union cards. In the face of exploitation and surveillance, workers unite against unjust wages, precarious contracts, and unsafe conditions. Their... Read more →
The campaign for status 4 all continues. Today we are closer than ever, but the members of the Migrants Rights Network is calling on supporters to continue to put pressure on the federal government to demand status 4 all now. #StatusforAll would be "life changing for so many people." It's time for Justin Trudeau to #RegularizeEveryone. SEND AN EMAIL NOW https://migrantrights.ca/take-action/email/ This video explains why our members deserve and need... Read more →
You are cordially invited to join us for an evening of cultural celebration presented by the Immigrant Workers Centre and Arts in The Margins. We are thrilled to announce a Punjabi musical opera and Hindi monologue performance on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at La Sala Rosa, located at 4848 Boulevard Saint Laurent, Montreal H2T 1R5. Doors will open at 5:00 PM, and the performance will commence promptly at 6:00 PM.... Read more →
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 Workers Centre (IWC) engaged in a struggle to gain compensation for Lamour employees. In 2023, Stefan Christoff and Lauren Laframboise... Read more →
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 their place of work and for the abuse and mistreatment to stop. It's because of this that the grand majority... Read more →
Camille Legault Thuot Montreal, February 29, 2024 - A survey conducted by IRIS and published today shows that the Quebec occupational health and safety regime is perpetuates the vulnerability of non-unionized workers, who represent nearly 60% of workers in Quebec. According to Mathieu Charbonneau, associate researcher at IRIS and author of the study, "the Act to modernize the occupational health and safety system adopted in 2021 will not provide satisfactory... Read more →
Various immigrant rights organizations request the implementation of a promised inclusive regularization program Hannah Scott-Talib — Published February 24, 2024 On Feb. 21, the Speak out: Status for All immigrant rights protest was held outside Minister of Immigration Marc Miller’s Montreal office, as part of an ongoing week of action led by various organizations. A crowd of roughly 50 people showed up, holding signs that read “regularization for all” and chanting... Read more →
*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 the Social Justice Centre, a researcher, and a long-time community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal, where he has been... Read more →
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 more, worker leadership has become a regular feature of the center, whether in campaign planning or as spokespeople. This success... Read more →
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister Marc Miller, Two years ago, while the pandemic and lockdown were still with us, you, Mr. Prime Minister, asked the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to explore "ways to regularize the status of undocumented workers who contribute to Canadian communities" and who played an essential role during the pandemic, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Two years later, on the occasion of commemorating... Read more →
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 to demand status for everyone to the riding office of Justin Trudeau. We will continue to organize and mobilize for... Read more →
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 →
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Minister Marc Miller confirmed his intention to “present a proposal to cabinet in the spring on allowing undocumented immigrants to regularize their status’”. It's been two years since the Prime Minister asked the IRCC minister in his mandate letter to explore ways of regularizing the status of undocumented migrants, according to The Globe and Mail. The Immigrant Workers Centre welcomes the intention to... Read more →
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), presents a disconcerting portrayal of the labor landscape in these major retail warehouses. You can read this coverage here: Dollarama... Read more →
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 in January 2022 to examine the employment,... Read more →
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 →
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 workers are left in limbo, required to navigate a complex application process with uncertain outcomes. The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI)... Read more →
The play, Mera Laung Gwacha, was performed in Park Extension’s William Hingston Community Centre on the 4th of November, 2023. To promote the play, we advertised around the neighborhood as well as regularly on the radio and did a half-hour interview on the local radio station, Humsafar. Our team of mostly amateur actors practiced for months to prepare, and the play was a resounding success. The actors were phenomenal in... Read more →
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 and undocumented immigrants already in the country, is tantamount to pointing the finger of blame at them for our social,... Read more →
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 recall that the root source of the violence lies in the apartheid and illegal occupation imposed by Israel on the... Read more →
We were in front of Justin Trudeau's office this noon to demand unemployment insurance reform. Years after we were promised reform, we're still at a standstill. Meanwhile, the unemployed continue to live in precarious conditions on just 55% of their income. It's criminal! Here are a few passages from today's speeches: "We want the threshold of hours worked to be lowered to 350h or 13 weeks, and the benefit rate... Read more →
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 →
The Immigrant Worker Centre (IWC) estimates that as many as 400 workers have been caught up in the alleged scheme. Benoît Scowen, an organizer with the IWC, says the six people who came forward Wednesday are only speaking publicly because they now have legal protections from the federal government. “Everyone else is in an incredibly vulnerable position,” said Scowen, who spent months gathering testimony from the workers. “One of the... Read more →
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 the law - David Bergeron-Cyr On the occasion of the second anniversary of the implementation of the Loi modernisant le... Read more →
An international aviation catering company and a Quebec recruitment firm allegedly lured foreign workers to Canada under false pretences and exploited them, according to a proposed class-action lawsuit. The Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal is seeking authorization to launch the suit against Laval, Que.-based placement firm Trésor and inflight catering company Newrest, along with several affiliated companies. Read the report:
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 services to major airlines at the Pierre Elliott TrudeauAirport. This lawsuit has been filed by the law firm Trudel Johnston... Read more →
On September 12, 2023, the Immigrant Workers Centre took part in the public hearings concerning immigration planning in Quebec for the period 2024-2027. The IWC's intervention began with the testimony of Grace Meyanwi Anye, member of the Women's Committee, who presented the concrete impacts of restrictive migration policies on the lives of migrants. Then, three organizers shared the floor to criticize the orientations proposed by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).... Read more →
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 Langlois.
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 immigration policies and the realities experienced by migrants and immigrants, as well as our positions on the policies implemented. Our... Read more →
Montreal, July 20, 2023. With the ever-increasing use of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which fails to guarantee the rights of these workers, abuses and violence against them are multiplying. Five migrant workers, victims of human trafficking, contacted the Immigrant Workers Center (IWC) and decided to testify to their experiences and to denounce the shortcomings of protection measures for migrant workers in vulnerable situations. Fraud, forced labour and threats: the... Read more →
Thousands of Montrealers took to the streets of Parc Extension to protest against Bill-31, a new law proposed in Quebec that would make it more difficult for tenants to transfer leases. The demonstration, organized by the Comité d'action de Parc-Extension (CAPE), RCLALQ Droit Au Logement, and the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI), aimed to fight for housing rights and to denounce the Coalition Avenir Québec's (CAQ) efforts to abolish lease transfers.... Read more →
Alexandre Leduc Urges Minister of Labour to Address Concerns Raised by Amazon Workers, Delegation Meets in Parliament At National Assembly on Thursday in Quebec city, Alexandre Leduc, the Labor Critic for the Second Opposition Group, Québec solidaire; has addressed, the ongoing concerns surrounding the working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Quebec. Leduc called upon the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, to take immediate action and launch an investigation into the... Read more →
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 policies are keeping more and more migrants in precarious situations. They also call for an immediate freeze on deportations and... Read more →
"Ji Jasi Apki Marzihat" captivates audiences with a compelling monologue on the mistreatment of women in Indian society The Montreal International Anarchist Theatre Festival recently hosted a thought-provoking play produced by the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CT) that shed light on the challenges faced by women and emphasized the importance of empowerment. Titled "Ji Jasi Apki Marzihat," directed and act by Nitu Sharma and written by Nadira Zahir Babber, captivated audiences... Read more →
At Concordia University, a diverse group came together to address the pressing issues of precarious labor and migrant justice in Quebec. Participated in the event, members from the women's committee of the IWC, along with members and workers from the Amazon committee and the South Asian committee of the IWC. They were joined by a representative of the Federation of Commerce of the CSN . The workshop was organized by... Read more →
This week, the voices of Amazon workers resonated powerfully at the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI), as they shared their stories with with two Quebec Members of National Assembly Gabriel Nadeau Dubois and Alexandre Leduc. The mission? To exert pressure on the government to hold Amazon accountable for respecting the fundamental rights of its workers. Their stories are our stories. Stories of hard work, resilience, and, unfortunately, stories of exploitation. This... Read more →
Yesterday marked a historic moment in the ongoing struggle for workers' rights, equality, and justice at Amazon warehouses in Montreal. Over one hundred attendees flooded the auditorium, their faces filled with hope, passion, and conviction, for the historical materialism conference in Montreal. It was a testament to the enduring spirit of our shared cause and the collective power we possess when we unite. Notable amongst the distinguished speakers was Alexandre... Read more →
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 migrant workers in the country and should be seen as a win for workers everywhere. Similar protections for immigrant workers... Read more →
On May 1st, in Montreal, we united in solidarity on the streets, to raise our voices against the escalating cost of living, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of our society. As inflation soars, the wealthiest individuals and corporations exploit the situation, amassing even greater profits at the expense of the working class. Many workers face the harsh reality of stagnant wages amidst skyrocketing prices for essential goods and... Read more →
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 vulnerability and precarious working conditions faced by migrant agricultural workers, emphasizing the significance of our work at IWC and the... Read more →
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 at IWC. The report shares the stories of undocumented immigrants living in precarious conditions and facing numerous challenges in their... Read more →
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 often endure exploitation, abuse, and discrimination, both in the workplace and in their everyday lives. The lack of legal status... Read more →
What is regularization? Simply put, regularization is giving papers to people who don't have them. It is obviously not a magical process. Regularization programs come with criteria for including or excluding applicants. The files are therefore processed one by one by the immigration officers as for other types of applications. The goal of these programs is to give an extra chance to... Read more →
This argument for the regularization of people without immigration status was constructed by the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) of Montreal in September 2022. The Immigrant Workers' Centre is a popular education and collective advocacy organization for labour and immigration rights for precarious workers. Since 2000, the ILC has supported workers in their struggles for dignity, respect and justice, including campaigns to... Read more →
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 being granted a work permit, they were made to survive for months without a salary, all while working up to... Read more →
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 of arrival! We demand that Quebec commit to this program and grant the Quebec selection certificate for true regularization! WE... Read more →
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 Gamelin (Berri UQAM metro) The Federal government is moving forward on new plans for a regularization programme for undocumented migrants.... Read more →
The Commission on Warehouse Work grew out of the IWC’s organizing on the issue of placement agencies during the last eight years. Te frst group of placement agency workers who met at the Centre were Dollarama warehouse workers. Te meetings focused on basic labour rights. Te Association des travailleurs et travailleuses d’agences de placements (ATTAP) was formed several years... Read more →
We are the Temporary Agency Workers Association’s (ATTAP) women’s committee, a group of immigrant women working in precarious conditions. We have come together to confront a shared problem: psychological harassment and sexual abuse in the workplace. Our committee was founded by the Immigrant Workers Center (IWC) in late 2018 with the mandate collectively addressing shared problems in the workplace that... Read more →
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 the minimum wage in Quebec. The benefits of raising the minimum wage to $18 per hour are too numerous for... Read more →
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 life, Nina had no choice but to quit her job to put an end to the sexual violence she was... Read more →
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 débuts de l’implantation du CTI, section Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, en 2012. Depuis neuf ans de travail au Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, les membres du CTI... Read more →
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 la responsabilité morale d’assumer dans sa capacité maximale la population quittant leur pays en dépit des difficultés manifestes en vue... Read more →
FOR MINIMUM WAGE ABOVE $15 PER HOUR POUR LE SALAIRE MINIMUM AU-DESSUS DE 15 $ DE L’HEURE
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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 outlining how it assesses and mitigates the human rights risks arising out of its use of third-party staffing agencies for... Read more →
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 Québec à Chicoutimi.
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 précaire ou sans statut, Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants (CTI), Association des travailleurs et travailleuses temporaires d’agence de placement... Read more →
An open letter from the ATTAP Women's Committee - January 2021 Community groups have been saying it for almost a year now. Sanitary measures have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable or marginalized populations. Despite these denunciations from all sides, and while the Quebec Superior Court has just decreed the exemption of people experiencing homelessness from the curfew, the CAQ stubbornly maintains the curfew along with increased police surveillance... Read more →
This brief will be presented to the provincial government as part of the consultation process for Bill-59. The French version of the briefing can be found here. The English translation is forthcoming. Mémoire PL 59_CCTP (2021) EN
The city of Montréal has been talking the talk with community groups and activist networks fighting for regularization for years. It's time to walk the walk! For Immediate Release, Friday, February 5th The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) and other groups have been in consultation with the Ville de Montréal since 2017, including a recent meeting last week surrounding the impacts of the curfew on undocumented people in the... Read more →
The IWC issues four demands to protect precarious essential workers Montreal, January 26, 2021. Precarious workers demand an immediate end to the harassment, detention, ticketing and arbitrary bullying of essential workers without status by police on the pretext of enforcing the curfew. The Immigrant Workers Centre demand that the following policies be implemented immediately: A don't ask, don't tell policy for workers without status Acceptance of the essential... Read more →
Your Rights During the Curfew, Download
Recommandations à l’égard du Projet de règlement édictant trois programmes pilotes d’immigration permanente (Décembre 2020)
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: 6 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020à Register for the Zoom event here: https://bit.ly/2VVyeIk Removing snow from truck trailers is dangerous... Read more →
Recommandations à l’égard du Projet de règlement édictant trois programmes pilotes d’immigration permanente (Décembre 2020)
Decent Housing for Migrant Agricultural Workers (December 2020)
Open letter published in collaboration with the Immigrant Workers Center Today in Montreal, front-line workers at Dollarama are campaigning for justice. These workers are courageously denouncing unsanitary working conditions in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. While Dollarama warehouse workers in Montreal point to health risks and inadequate compensation, retail store workers are also demanding fairer working conditions. As Montreal artists, we support these workers' demand for justice. This campaign... Read more →
Recommandations à l’égard du Projet de règlement modifiant le Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) (Juin 2020)
Dear Prime Minister, During this pandemic time, we would like to draw your attention to the plight of undocumented migrants. These are essential and ignored workers for whom we demand : Access to an income for the duration of the pandemic. A health card with all the privileges it gives all citizens. Issuance of Certificats de sélection de Québec, which allow people to apply for permanent residency at the federal... Read more →
What: Press Conference (Zoom link available by request) When: 10am Friday May 1st, 2020 Who: Coalition against Precarious Work Jorge Frozzini, Community Organizer Immigrant Workers Centre Charles, former Dollarama warehouse worker living in Montreal Nord Andrew and his mother, meat processing plant worker Eric, Current agricultural worker and Temporary Foreign Worker Celina San Juan, precarious worker fighting for her status and access to the CERB Jennifer, a caregiver who has... Read more →
Call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: (613) 992-4211 Call your Member of Parliament: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en The government announced income support measures last week, and the corresponding legislation will be debated tomorrow. The details - who will qualify, how much and for how long - will be decided at that time. Now is the time to ensure that no one is left behind. You must act immediately. When you call, remind... Read more →
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 -- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Immigrant Workers' Centre (IWC-CTI) is suspending its hours of operation and its legal clinic. If you have any questions regarding work-related issues or your status as a migrant worker, please call (514) 342-2111 or email us at iwc_cti@yahoo.com. Leave your name and phone number. We will contact you within 24 hours. We will post important information for workers regarding... Read more →
An evening of food, culture and testimonials Saturday, November 23, 2019, 4 pm - 6 pm Immigrant Workers Centre, 4755 Ave Van Horne Suite 110, Montréal https://www.facebook.com/events/2678167875566768/ The Immigrant Workers Centre would like to invite you to participate in the launch of our report which was based on a two-year investigation on the conditions faced by warehouse workers in Montreal. There will be an event on Saturday, November 23rd at... Read more →
Over the past year, ATTAP has had three main priorities. Here, we will provide an overview of organizing activity which has taken place to advance those priorities. Over the past year, the Immigrant Workers Centre has continued its efforts to organize workers who are employed via placement agency. The main organizing body that does this work is the Association des travailleuses-eurs temporaires et d’agences de placement (ATTAP), a branch... Read more →
Recommandations à l’égard du Projet de règlement sur les agences de placement de personnel et les agences de recrutement de travailleurs étrangers temporaires (Juin 2019)
Mémoire de l’Association des travailleurs et travailleuses d’agence de placement (ATTAP) sur le Projet de loi 176 sur la révision de la Loi sur les normes du travail (Mai 2018)
Press release Immigrant Workers Centre, Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal, Association of Progressive Jurists (AJP) Montreal May 24, 2019 On May 10th, 2019, the Tax Court of Canada made a historic ruling in recognizing that temporary foreign workers can be eligible to receive employment insurance (EI) benefits, even if they have worked without a valid work permit. Accompanied by the Immigrant Workers Centre, a group of approximately... Read more →