New federal funding will help migrant workers in southwestern Ontario learn about and exercise their rights while they are in Canada.
Ottawa has announced $3.6-million to support Workforce WindsorEssex through the Migrant Worker Support Program.
The organization supports over 8000 temporary foreign workers in the Windsor region, Chatham-Kent, and Lambton County.
The funding will be used to help build the capacity of local organizations that work with and support migrant workers through community activities like recreational and information sharing events, providing educational materials and other community support services.
“Through various community projects, we know first-hand the number of organizations, large and small, that work very hard to ensure that Migrant Workers feel informed, supported, and welcomed in the community,” Michelle Suchiu, Vice-President of Strategic Partnerships with Workforce WindsorEssex said. “This funding will help support those partner organizations to build their capacity and increase outreach and services. In turn, Migrant Workers will benefit from increased access to services, information, emergency supports and community events through these networks of grass roots and community organizations.
Specifically, the Migrant Worker Support Program aims to:
- help migrant workers understand and become aware of their rights and responsibilities in Canada, through educational activities and materials;
- empower migrant workers to exercise their rights, by providing or helping them access services available to them;
- promote the inclusion of migrant workers through social, cultural and recreational events;
- support migrant workers during emergency situations;
- foster new partnerships or leverage existing networks to support migrant workers; and
- help develop coordinated approaches among community organizations, and improve their capacity to provide resources and services directly to migrant workers.
In addition to supporting community-based projects, the Migrant Worker Support Program will also fund reception and referral services for temporary foreign workers as they arrive in Canada at major airports across the country.