Navigating Precarious Paths: An Assessment of the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Migrant Workers

Abstract

Temporary migrant workers on closed work permits are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. To address this, the Government of Canada introduced the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers (OWP-V) in June 2019. This permit allows migrant workers in abusive situations to leave their employers and find new work in Canada for up to 12 months. This research, using secondary literature, policy analysis, and interviews, evaluates the OWP-V policy in the Maritimes, highlighting its benefits and critiques. While seen as a step in the right direction, significant barriers hinder its effectiveness in removing migrants from abuse. Findings indicate that despite improvements, the policy fails to prevent workers from re-entering cycles of abuse, offering only temporary relief. Stakeholders suggest enhancements in accessibility, language options, processing times, and inspections to improve the policy's implementation. However, substantial systemic issues remain.