Local groups to rally for workers’ rights; denounce proposed changes to Immigration Act

May Day Organizing Committee
Press Release

17 April 2008

VANCOUVER, B.C. – An alliance of local progressive groups plans to rally for workers’ rights on May 1, International Workers’ Day and to protest proposed changes by the Canadian government to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).  According to the groups, the proposed changes will give the Minister the right to prioritize the recruitment of temporary workers, who are often abused in the country.

“We are protesting the Canadian government’s shift in immigration policy which prioritizes the recruitment of temporary foreign workers over regular immigrants,” says Monica Urrutia, spokesperson for the May Day Organizing Committee.  “From the long-standing experience of Filipino live-in caregivers and Mexican farm workers, we know that temporary workers are often abused and heavily exploited in Canada,” she said.

Members and endorsers of the committee include the groups Justicia for Migrant Workers – BC, an advocacy group for Mexican farm workers who come to Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) and SIKLAB –BC (Advance and Uphold the Rights of Overseas Filipino Workers), an advocacy group for Filipino migrant workers and their families, many of whom come to Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).

The group says the proposed changes to the Immigration Act, “clearly demonstrate how the government locks and unlocks the doors to Canada depending on its needs for cheap and flexible labour.”

Organizers of the annual May 1 rally hope to gather protesters to mark the international day calling for justice for migrant, temporary and undocumented workers and for solidarity amongst all workers.

The rally will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at Clark Park (Commercial Drive and East 14th Ave.) and march to Grandview Park (Commercial Drive and Charles St.) in Vancouver.

 -30-

 For more information, please contact: Hetty or Albert at: 604-215-1103 or e-mail: ilps_canada@shawcable.com