This policy brief from the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration discusses the crucial role of migrant farmworkers in Canada’s agricultural sector. Despite their importance, these workers aren’t sufficiently protected by current laws.  

Migrant workers, who made up about 25% of the agricultural workforce in 2022, face restricted mobility and rights due to shortcomings in Temporary Foreign Worker Program.  

The brief criticizes these programs for simplifying how employers access vulnerable workers. It points out that non-state initiatives in other countries have helped fill protection gaps, but that these cannot replace state regulations.  

Several measures are recommended to improve the situation, including better legal protections, reformed enforcement frameworks, and more effective integration of non-state initiatives. The brief emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to ensure migrant farmworkers are safe and that their rights are protected. Currently, there are significant enforcement gaps, especially in housing and workplace safety.