P.E.I. foreign worker protections deemed insufficient by advocates

P.E.I.'s Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act will take effect on April 1, introducing new regulations for recruiters and prohibiting fees and misleading practices. However, advocates argue it does not sufficiently address systemic issues faced by temporary foreign workers. The act will require recruiters to be licensed and ban practices like withholding workers' documents. Despite these changes, advocates highlight that the closed work-permit system remains a significant vulnerability, leaving workers at risk of abuse. Advocates are calling for open work permits to allow workers to leave abusive situations without jeopardizing their residency status. They express concerns about the enforcement of the new regulations and the delayed implementation of the act.