Summary: Assessment of the Migrant Worker Support Network pilot: Final report

On this page

• About the network
• Scope of assessment
• Main findings
• Considerations

Alternate formats

About the network

The Migrant Worker Support Network was a pilot under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) from 2018 to 2020 with a budget of $3.4 million. The goal was to better protect and empower TFWs by:

• increasing their knowledge on their rights in Canada
• providing them with resources and services

The network had 2 components:

• a funding program, which gave funding to non-profit organizations
• network meetings, such as working groups, worker forums, and government and network meetings

Scope of assessment

This assessment included:

• document review
• interviews
• focus groups
• surveys with 78 diverse stakeholders (including migrant workers)

Main findings

The assessment found that the network made clear and recognized progress in:

• stakeholders sharing important information:
• with migrant workers, including how to exercise their rights
• with other stakeholders, including information needed to improve the support they give to migrant workers
• collaboration among stakeholders
• helping migrant workers report abuse

Areas to continue improving are:

• detecting and preventing abuse of migrant workers by employers
• developing policy and funding advice that inform government action to improve worker protections

Considerations

After analyzing the network's strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities, the following points were made:

• extend the network in British Columbia, keeping findings in mind
• make sure there are clear ways to regularly share information back to network stakeholders
• reach out to migrant workers and employers in streams other than agriculture
• enable planning during Network meetings to inform the funding program
• use the Government Network to improve collaboration among governments
• explore if and how the network can influence government policies and funding
• develop a logic model and a way to collect and report data
• if the network is expanded to other areas, test local interest and need first