Another Article about the Flawed TFW Program

[torontosm]

Some more press coverage about the gaping holes in the TFW program:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/film-company-accused-of-foreign-worker-fraud-extortion-1.2645557

So once these actors arrived in Canada, they suddenly realized their lives were in danger and successfully filed for refugee status? There are so many things about our immigration system that need to be fixed!

 

[fkl]

Certainly, immigration needs to be fixed, but i didn't draw the same conclusion after reading the article. I urge others to read through it.

It clearly says the couple was working in Malaysia previously and feared their return to Iran because of working on TV. Because they cannot work here for any one else legally, (and were asked by their employer to instead pay him 1200 CAD monthly so he would fake tax returns on their behalf to government), they risked deportation to Iran which might get them behind bars.

That to me sounds like a real situation although you can never know who is telling the truth. But clearly and surprisingly no one raised a finger on the employer.

It is not a flaw of TFW program - it is criminal negligence not to pursue a citizen employer who is clearly breaking LAW.

 

[torontosm]

Certainly, immigration needs to be fixed, but i didn't draw the same conclusion after reading the article. I urge others to read through it.

It clearly says the couple was working in Malaysia previously and feared their return to Iran because of working on TV. Because they cannot work here for any one else legally, (and were asked by their employer to instead pay him 1200 CAD monthly so he would fake tax returns on their behalf to government), they risked deportation to Iran which might get them behind bars.

That to me sounds like a real situation although you can never know who is telling the truth. But clearly and surprisingly no one raised a finger on the employer.

It is not a flaw of TFW program - it is criminal negligence not to pursue a citizen employer who is clearly breaking LAW.

To me, this article showed just how easy it is to obtain LMO's and permits to bring in TFW's. If a company that doesn't exist and that preys on "innocents" can do this on a repeated basis, then it must be even easier for those businesses that actually have a need for labor (be it Canadian or otherwise). In effect, the TFW program has become a backdoor for people to come to Canada and then try and settle here, be it with the CEC class, as refugees or through some other program.

As for their refugee claim, I understand that they didn't want to return to Iran. But surely they could have bought a plane ticket back to Malaysia and voluntarily left? Surely this wasn't the only option. The way that some people abuse the system just makes it harder for real refugees in the long run.

 

[fkl]

May be it is a feeling, but i see biasness towards not focusing on the primary suspect the employer here - who should be punished first of all.

Though i agree with the sarcasm on "innocents". People should know better than to pay money for coming over. Rest of the line of logic, i don't follow - availability of qualified workers for some specific role has nothing to do with "being easier to find resources". This was a case of fraud. How can it be used to justify that employers should be able to find what they need.

To me CEC as program and requirement is as fair as any FSW based immigration. I think it is just a perception that because you came through other points based program and feel that you went through more - in order to qualify for PR, you call CEC a back door. To me if it is back door - so is FSW. I am not willing to discredit a person's suitability and his right to be a PR (probably better than an FSW applicant - though i respect better credentials of the latter) if he has worked in this country for some time, paid taxes and is accustomed to the society even if he is a butcher or other working class of people that have been questioned.

It is personal opinion cited here. Legally speaking the only "back door" is the employer misusing a program and perhaps the employee too being responsible to some extent because they paid for getting a job against the advice of CIC.

The last part regarding getting back to Malaysia instead of Iran made sense. Though i can speculate that they might have been on work permits in Malaysia which were sort of lost once they left job for Canada (pretty similar in Canada). I cannot expect to come back here and stay if i was on a work permit here - got a job in US on H1 - lost it and thought i could come to Canada and work. Legally i might be able to stay in Canada then, but won't be able to work without a new employer, LMO and work permit. Just another opinion.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

I agree, as Iranians they had no right to return to Malaysia without a new work permit, which they could no longer afford because they could not work in Canada.

My frustration in this particular story is directed at the employer. This is human trafficking, plain and simple. The responsibility lies with Canada to crack down on these businesses and their dodgy practises. And they simply aren't doing that.

 

[beholder69]

You'd be surprised if you knew how many people came here via FSW last year without having any qualifications, not even knowing how to say "hello" in English and them and their whole families now have PR just because they had enough money to pay to the right people. I repeat, I'm not focusing on the fact this happens, I'm focusing on the sheer number of the people I personally know that have done it. This is not rumors or finding articles while surfing the net, it's just the harsh reality.

And I know of people that have genuine qualifications (the ones required for their job), know English (at least at a decent level), have been offered a legitimate job, have family here and can't come to work due to the moratorium.

There is no flawed program, there is just no proper enforcement of the rules in all programs.

 

[on-hold]

I agree, as Iranians they had no right to return to Malaysia without a new work permit, which they could no longer afford because they could not work in Canada.

My frustration in this particular story is directed at the employer. This is human trafficking, plain and simple. The responsibility lies with Canada to crack down on these businesses and their dodgy practises. And they simply aren't doing that.

This is completely right -- it's perfectly appropriate for Canada to take some responsibility for failing to police this company. The TFW program needs to have some sort of mechanism put in place to ease this sort of situation: an employer-provided bond or something similar to EI that all TFW-utilizing companies pay into. If this was the U.S., I would accuse the Republicans of gutting regulatory mechanisms and then claiming the program doesn't work when they ruin it, but who knows what's happened here?

As for the couple being stupid for paying for a work permit, that's how a large chunk of the world works. Anywhere that access to Canada is facilitated by local translators, agents, or anyone else, it is probably taking place. As someone who has seen how international labour markets can punish workers, I'm proud that Canada is not putting the burden for this situation on the couple who was victimized.

 

[steerpike]

The employer should be charged criminally, and also have to pay the full benefits for these two "refugees" for the rest of their lives. 100% of all the social services they ever use.

 

[kaligayahan]

My frustration in this particular story is directed at the employer. This is human trafficking, plain and simple. The responsibility lies with Canada to crack down on these businesses and their dodgy practises. And they simply aren't doing that.

Yes! Absolutely! The employer/corporate scum bag that exploits the system and/or human rights should be FINED and JAILED. Corporations control the Gov so like that's gonna happen. This is a clear cut case of outright fraud. The "employer" should be fined to high hell and thrown in the bucket!

 

[Hamid khan]

Can it effect badly the people are already in canada as working visa via lmo