Modern-Day Slavery: The Plight of 17 Filipino Temporary Foreign Workers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

17 Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) recruited from the Philippines to work in Manitoba and Saskatchewan were terminated by their employer two to three weeks into their jobs. Apuntar Legal Services is assisting some of them in filing their claims before the Labour Board.

These workers were hired as mechanics, a skilled occupation that formed the basis of their recruitment, immigration applications, and work permits. What followed instead was a deeply troubling pattern of exploitation, retaliation, and abandonment. Some of them were housed in inhumane and degrading conditions that reflect circumstances international human rights experts have warned can amount to modern-day slavery, particularly where workers are dependent on a single employer for work, housing, and immigration status.

Recruited as Mechanics — Assigned to Cleaning Work

Upon arrival in Canada, some of the workers were not assigned the mechanical duties promised to them. Instead, they were instructed to perform cleaning and janitorial work, a clear departure from their job offers and approved employment terms. This type of job misrepresentation and contract substitution undermines the very purpose of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and places migrant workers in an impossible position.

Raising Concerns Led to Termination

After approximately two week, some of the workers raised concerns about:

• Being assigned work outside their approved job description

• Poor and unsafe working conditions

• Inadequate and degrading living arrangements

Rather than addressing these concerns, the employer terminated their employment. With employer-specific work permits, the workers were unable to seek work elsewhere, leaving them trapped in a precarious legal and economic situation.

Inhumane Housing Conditions and Eviction

The employer-provided accommodation as shown by one of the workers was shocking in their inadequacy, described as little more than cardboard shelters, lacking basic dignity, privacy, and safety.

Following termination, some of the workers were evicted from their accommodations, leaving them without shelter or income. This illustrates how employer-controlled housing can become a tool of coercion and control over migrant workers.

Reported to Migrant Resource Center Canada (MRCC)

The situation of these workers was reported to MRCC, an organization supporting migrant workers facing abuse and exploitation.

The Migrant Resource Centre Canada (MRCC) aims to improve the lives of migrant and immigrant workers by advancing their rights and dignity while working and living in Canada. MRCC recognizes migrant workers as key actorsin pursuing this goal and focuses on capacity building, cooperative action, and supporting full participation in Canadian society.

Through his volunteer work with MRCC, Apol Apuntar became involved and is now providing pro bono legal assistance to help the workers navigate employment, housing, and immigration challenges.

A Turning Point: Collective Action Leads to Reinstatement

Following the workers’ decision to organize collectively, seek support, and speak to the media, the situation took a significant turn.

After learning that the workers had come forward publicly and that their case had been raised with advocacy organizations and legal counsel, the employer suddenly contacted the workers and instructed them to return to work, stating that they were no longer terminated.

Some of the workers have since returned to their jobs.

This moment represents a meaningful victory — not because the harm has been erased, but because it demonstrates the power of collective action, visibility, and support. The workers’ willingness to assert their rights, despite the risks tied to closed work permits and housing insecurity, directly contributed to this outcome.

Importantly, this development underscores a critical truth:retaliation and termination can be reversed when workers are not isolated and when abuses are brought into the light.

Why This Victory Matters — and Why the Work Continues

While the employer’s reversal is a positive step, it does not erase the original harms experienced by the workers, including:

• Job misrepresentation and contract substitution

• Termination after raising concerns

• Eviction and inhumane housing conditions

• The psychological and financial distress caused by sudden loss of work and shelter

These issues raise serious questions about compliance with labour standards, housing obligations, and the structural vulnerabilities created by employer-specific work permits.

Apuntar Legal Services continues to assist the workers pro bono, in coordination with community partners, to ensure that:

• Workers are protected from further retaliation

• Their rights are respected moving forward

• Broader accountability and systemic reform are pursued

This case demonstrates that when migrant workers organize, are supported, and are heard, change is possible — even within a system that too often silences them.

Modern-Day Slavery: Canada’s TFW Program Under International Scrutiny

In September 2023, a United Nations Special Rapporteur warned that Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program can enable “contemporary forms of slavery.” The report highlighted how closed work permits trap workers, limit mobility, and leave them vulnerable to abuse. The experiences of these 17 Filipino workers mirror the UN’s findings, showing how structural flaws in the program can lead to severe exploitation and human rights violations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing issues under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program — including wrongful termination, unsafe or inadequate housing, or exploitive work conditions — contact Migrants Resource Centre Canada today for guidance and support.re exploitation and human rights violations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing issues under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program — including wrongful termination, unsafe or inadequate housing, or exploitive work conditions — contact Migrants Resource Centre Canada today for guidance and support.