In a few days, an important public consultation will take place at the National Assembly on immigration planning for the next three years in Quebec.
As part of this consultation, Quebec union centers are uniting their voices to defend a common vision of immigration: inclusive immigration, which treats each immigrant with dignity, which protects the rights of employees, whether they are immigrants or no, and which promotes our common language which is French.
In our opinion, Quebec must prioritize permanent immigration and reduce the use of temporary immigration, which tends to create second-class citizens and employees. We must work with the federal government to prioritize the many obstacles to accessing permanent residence encountered by many temporary migrant workers and their families, particularly those covered by the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. (PTET). The majority of these people are concentrated in very demanding and difficult jobs, with little or no protection of their labor rights, and in conditions that make it impossible to access permanent status, even if they have been here for many years .
Also, as the United Nations Special Rapporteur confirmed just a few days ago, the “closed” temporary work permit (linked to a single employer) is similar to forced labor since it deprives the right to change employment. employment and creates conditions favoring abuse. We therefore call for the abolition of this type of work permit. Quebec has the capacity to do this and must vigorously claim it from the federal government. Our international commitments to human rights and labor conventions are at stake.
Likewise, it is urgent to see to the regularization of people without status. Although already established here and integrated into the labor market, they are confined to informal work, sometimes even in businesses and the public sector, which often makes them victims of exploitation and abuse.
At the same time, the regionalization of immigration still remains a laudable objective, but one which is making little progress. Communities must be better supported to properly welcome each immigrant. Regional consultation is too often absent while funding for public services, housing and community organizations must be increased and sustained.
Quebec must do everything it can to promote the learning of French for newly arrived people. The failures in the implementation of Francisation Québec are not reassuring. Thousands of immigrants are currently waiting for a francization reference despite places available in organizations that offer courses. In addition, it is important to emphasize that the accessibility of French courses is crucial for temporary foreign workers (TEFs) who must quickly integrate into the workplace.
These courses are currently the missing link to ensure better access to the francization of TETs. Immigrants must be able to be released, without loss of salary, to learn French. Employers must commit to this and release the immigrants they employ to give them access to francization.
The priority given to economic immigration, in the determination of migration thresholds by the government of Quebec, must not be to the detriment of Quebec’s international commitments towards welcoming refugees and their families. Even from an economic point of view, it is unreasonable to deprive oneself of the contribution of these people, or to dampen the desire of people to migrate to Quebec, by restricting their ability to do so with their family.
Following this, the union centers are calling on the Quebec government to humanize immigration to Quebec in order to ensure that it is fair, fully inclusive and successful.
