Migrant workers arriving in Canada for steady employment are increasingly falling victim to labour trafficking, often without realizing they are being exploited. In several documented cases, workers have faced extreme wage theft, excessive hours, and the withholding of legal documents by their employers.
One worker, Alberto, was recruited from Mexico for a window cleaning company with promises of covered flight and permit costs. Upon arriving in Toronto, more than $11,000 was illegally deducted from his pay, leaving him in debt and relying on food banks while working over 10 hours a day for approximately $300 a week.
Similarly, Sofia, a live-in caregiver from Honduras, was forced to work 19-hour days performing cleaning, cooking, and childcare for $540 a month. Marcus, an engineer from Mexico recruited for a cleaning company, had his work permit withheld and saw more than half of his wages go unpaid.
Despite these abuses, the employers in all three cases remain in operation and have faced no penalties. These individuals were only identified as victims of labour trafficking after applying for vulnerable worker permits, which are issued to migrant workers who can provide evidence of workplace abuse.
A Systemic “Ticking Time Bomb”
Advocates warn that labour exploitation is thriving due to a combination of precarious work and a broken immigration system. James McLean, policy and research director for the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, described the current situation as a “ticking time bomb.”
McLean noted that the government is tightening immigration pathways without simultaneously strengthening worker protections. This shift occurs as Ottawa reverses course on immigration and slashes targets after years of policies that encouraged record numbers of international students and migrant workers.
As of the end of March, there were about 2,676,000 temporary residents in Canada, including asylum seekers. Approximately 1,938,805 temporary study, work, and visitor permits are expected to expire by the end of this year, potentially leaving more people undocumented, and vulnerable.
The Enforcement Gap
Authorities have struggled to detect and measure the prevalence of labour trafficking, which remains widely underreported. Traffickers often use deception, coercion, and false promises about living conditions to fill low-wage jobs in sectors such as hospitality, construction, agriculture, and caregiving.
Idil Atak, a professor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University, stated that Canadian authorities have been “very, very ineffective” in prosecuting offenders. Statistics Canada data from 2014 to 2024 shows that of 5,070 reported human trafficking incidents, only 10 per cent resulted in a guilty finding.
Adding to the crisis, Canada’s national strategy to fight human trafficking expired in 2024 and has not yet been renewed. Public Safety Canada stated that work continues on the next iteration, which will draw on 2024-25 engagement sessions.
Potential Escalation of Vulnerability
The risk to migrant workers may become more acute as the immigrant settlement sector faces federal funding cuts. These cuts threaten essential services, including employment assistance and housing support for newcomers.
Gloria Carrasquero, an immigration lawyer with the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples, expects the trend of exploitation to worsen. She noted that tightening pathways may push more migrants into isolated and precarious work, particularly in rural areas.
the rise in temporary foreign workers applying for open work permits to escape abusive employers suggests a widespread issue. In Ontario, these applications increased by more than 800 per cent year over year as of May 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tactics do labour traffickers use to exploit workers?
Traffickers use deception and coercion, which can include making false promises about working conditions, illegal wage deductions, threats to safety, and the withholding of passports or immigration documents.
Why are many victims reluctant to report their abuse?
Many victims fear losing their immigration status or face deportation. Others may be unaware of their legal rights or have had their identification documents confiscated by their employers.
What has the UN said about Canada’s worker programs?
In 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery described Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker programs as a “breeding ground” for modern forms of slavery.
Do you believe current immigration policies provide enough protection for temporary foreign workers?
