New Offices to Protect Temporary Foreign Workers in Alberta

Monday, 17 December 2007

The Alberta government has recently established special advisory offices in Edmonton and Calgary for temporary foreign workers. They will provide one-stop access to information and services and will help ensure that temporary workers are treated fairly in their workplaces. A team of inspectors and employment standards officers are available through these offices to provide help resolving issues related to employment standards and occupational health and safety. They will also carry out inspections of companies to ensure that temporary foreign workers receive the wages, overtime, general holiday, and vacation pay to which they are entitled.

"Temporary foreign workers are helping to fill a critical need in our province. It is essential that they are treated fairly," said Iris Evans, Alberta Minister of Employment, Immigration, and Industry. "While these workers are protected by the same laws as other Alberta workers, they may be more vulnerable to exploitation. They may, for example, be unfamiliar with Alberta law. The steps we are taking today will allow us to be more proactive in our enforcement activities and will ensure these workers have somewhere to go to when they need help."

These offices are the first of their kind in Canada. In addition to helping temporary foreign workers to resolve complaints about their employers, they will also provide translation services, assist workers to find new employers, work with other immigrant-serving organizations, and facilitate education sessions to improve awareness for temporary foreign workers and their employers.