Iranian Spokesperson Expresses Concerns Over Human Rights Report in Canada - Tasnim

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani expressed concerns over the exploitation of immigrant workers and indigenous communities in Canada that was revealed in a report by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

"The Special Rapporteur's deep concern about the treatment of immigrant workers and indigenous people in Canada, a country that presents itself as a global advocate for human rights, is alarming. It underscores the true nature of discriminatory practices in Canada when it comes to humanitarian and human rights issues," Kanaani stated in response to the report.

"Regrettably, we are witnessing that, contrary to the claims made by Canadian officials, the disturbing shadow of the slavery phenomenon has taken on new and concerning forms within Canadian government policies, continuing to impact Canadian society," Kanaani continued.

The spokesperson also emphasized the utmost importance of recognizing the dignity and humanity of indigenous people and immigrant workers. He stressed the urgency of ending such discriminatory practices and called for enhanced oversight by human rights organizations.

An independent UN human rights expert has labeled Canada's temporary foreign worker programs as potential breeding grounds for modern slavery, the National Post reported. Tomoya Obokata, the special rapporteur appointed by the Human Rights Council, has called on the Canadian government to enhance protections for workers' rights and establish a clear path to permanent residency for migrants.

This report comes in the wake of recent allegations that a farm in Southwestern Ontario sent Jamaican seasonal workers home prematurely due to protests about their living and working conditions. These allegations are currently under investigation by both the federal government and Jamaica's ministry of labor and social security.

Temporary foreign workers constitute roughly 25% of Canada's agricultural workforce and approximately 10% of the food and beverage manufacturing sector, according to Statistics Canada. Recent updates in 2022 included the removal of limits on the number of low-wage positions that seasonal industry employers, like fish and seafood processing, can fill with temporary foreign workers. The maximum employment duration for high-wage workers was also extended from two to three years.

In 2019, the Canadian government established the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), tasked with investigating ethical violations, including human rights complaints, and allocated an annual budget of approximately $5 million.

However, a 2021 report from Canada's Auditor General Karen Hogan found that Ottawa had not effectively protected foreign temporary workers during the pandemic, despite repeated warnings about systemic issues with its inspection system.