4 The Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Regulations, Practices, and Protection Gaps

Abstract

In recent years, the number of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) admitted to Canada has more than doubled. In this book chapter, Delphine Nakache examines the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), in order to evaluate the Canadian approach to integrating and protecting these migrants. She considers three possible policy perspectives on the legal status of temporary foreign workers, according to whether the country of employment (1) sees temporary labour migration as an opportunity to integrate the workers; (2) is indifferent to their future position in society; or (3) tries to prevent their integration. In order to determine into which policy perspective Canada fits, the author analyzes one important integration mechanism the employment related rights of TFWS and briefly discusses the most prominent issues surrounding family accompaniment and access to permanent residency from within for these workers.