Canadian labour programme hit with gender discrimination
5 August 2014
Canadian unions have complained that Mexican immigrant worker programmes are rife with discrimination because employers can choose the sex of workers.
Tue, 5 Aug 2014Canadian unions have complained that Mexican immigrant worker programmes are rife with discrimination because employers can choose the sex of workers.
UFCW Canada is asking the Ontario Human Rights Commission to open an inquiry into gender-based discrimination in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).
“Under the current process SAWP employers are able to discriminate against migrant women by requesting workers based on their gender,” said a statement from UFCW Canada, adding this violates Mexican and Canadian legislation, as well as international treaties on discrimination.
Women comprise less than 4% of the thousands of migrant agriculture workers who participate in the SAWP each year, according to UFCW figures.
UFCW Canada is asking the Ontario Human Rights Commission to open an inquiry into gender-based discrimination in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).
“Under the current process SAWP employers are able to discriminate against migrant women by requesting workers based on their gender,” said a statement from UFCW Canada, adding this violates Mexican and Canadian legislation, as well as international treaties on discrimination.
Women comprise less than 4% of the thousands of migrant agriculture workers who participate in the SAWP each year, according to UFCW figures.
