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UN expert sounds alarm over ‘contemporary forms of slavery’ in Canada (news.un.org)

submitted 1 year ago by alphacyberranger@sh.itjust.works to c/world@lemmy.world

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[-] can@sh.itjust.works 29 points 1 year ago

Glad to see some attention brought to this. So many fast food places are run this way and they always look so overworked.

[-] otter@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 year ago

“I am deeply disturbed by the accounts of exploitation and abuse shared with me by migrant workers,” he said

“Employer-specific work permit regimes, including certain Temporary Foreign Worker Programmes, make migrant workers vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery, as they cannot report abuses without fear of deportation,” Obokata said.

He acknowledged recent policies enacted to promote human rights across the business sector such as the creation of a Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) and other codes of conduct.

But he emphasized the need to regularize the status of foreign migrant workers, citing their valuable skills the bring to the economy.

“I urge the Government to bring forward legislation requiring Canadian companies to implement mandatory human rights due diligence, and expand the independence, powers, and mandate of the CORE,” he said.

[-] Pat12@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Someone i know who works higher up in walmart said something like 50-60% of their workers were FWP

[+] tal@kbin.social -74 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, sorry, but no. That's not slavery. If you're present in the country illegally and working illegally and could be returned home at any time, you may not be making as much as you would if you were present legally, but you are not compelled to work. You can always terminate working and return to the country where you are legally supposed to be. If you choose to be in Country A illegally and working there rather than in Country B legally and working (for less) there, that is your choice, and you are not being compelled to work.

Slavery entails someone being compelled to work.

[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 56 points 1 year ago

Please read the article before making your xenophobic proclamation. This has nothing to do with "illegal" immigration. The Temporary Foreign Worker program brings in employees legally. Once in Canada many employers illegally exploit these employees under threat that if the employees report their conditions, their contract will be terminated.

[+] tal@kbin.social -53 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That still is not slavery. The person in question is still not compelled to work.

[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 39 points 1 year ago

The employees ARE being compelled to work under threat. It might not be dictionary definition slavery, which is why the article calls it one of the "contemporary forms of slavery".

[-] Ubermeisters@lemmy.zip 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah you're right they could just choose to starve to death I suppose.

Fucking dumbass

[-] BarrelAgedBoredom@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago

Slavery takes many forms and the industry has adapted with the times. Chattel slavery (the kind you're probably thinking about) is just one type of slavery. It would be a good idea to learn about how modern slavery looks. You might help rescue someone one day if you know what to keep an eye out for

[-] squiblet@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

So what if their option is to return to their home country and experience even more dire economic conditions? How about typical life in the US where sure, you could stop working, if you don’t mind starving and being homeless?

[-] Hegar@kbin.social 25 points 1 year ago

Bigoted and uninformed? Quite a catch.

[-] Pisodeuorrior@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago

Jesus christ you're a moron.

this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023

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