Thursday, November 13th
7:00 pm
Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre, 2900 13th Ave., Regina
Featuring Marco Luciano, Director of Migrante Alberta and a long time labour activist and organizer; Larry Hubich, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and a long time trade unionist and activist; and Daniel Parrott, with the Ministry of Labour Relations whose Master’s thesis examined the role and history of legislation that regulates the recruitment of temporary foreign workers. Introductory remarks by Andrew Stevens, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Regina.
For centuries, migration has been chosen by people looking for a better life. The Temporary Foreign Workers Program & the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program have been seen as win-win programs both for Canadian businesses suffering labour shortages, as well as for developing countries that benefit from remittances sent home. But migrant dreams for a better life and improved standards of living are too often quashed by exploitation, racism, and widespread reports of abuses.
This forum will bring together the general public, migrant worker advocacy groups, organized labour, as well as researchers studying immigration and labour concerns in the province in order to discuss the social and economic implications of these programs.
What safeguards must be in place to ensure fair pay and safe working conditions for all? How are migrant workers being impacted by recent changes to labour laws and foreign worker protections? How can Saskatchewan be a welcoming and safe province for new-comers?
The Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC) is pleased to be offering this forum with financial assistance from the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and UR International. For more information contact SCIC at 306-757-4669.
Check out the Facebook event for further information.
BIOS
Marco Luciano is the director of Migrante Alberta. A non-profit Filipino migrant advocacy group. He is the Canada representative of Philippine based Migrante International, a global alliance of over 200 organization in 23 countries. Marco is a long time labour activist and organizer. He has worked extensively with migrant workers for over 10 years.
Larry Hubich is the president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL). He has served as the SFL’s President since he was first elected on July 3, 2002, and is currently in his 7th term. A long time trade unionist and social activist Larry was a staff representative with Grain Services Union for 20 years. Throughout his entire career, Larry has been steadfast in the defense of worker’s rights. Despite many obstacles and challenges he oversaw the combined effort of SFL affiliates who successfully launched an unprecedented legal action against the Saskatchewan government.
Daniel Parrott is Director of Legal and Educations Services with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety’s Employment Standards Division. Mr. Parrott received his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and later earned a Master’s in Law degree from the University of Victoria. Mr. Parrott’s Master’s thesis examined the role and history of employment agency legislation in regulating the recruitment of temporary foreign workers.
Andrew Stevens is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration and the Department of Sociology at the University of Regina. He teaches and researches the areas of industrial relations, the sociology of work, temporary foreign workers in Saskatchewan, the globalization and offshoring of IT employment, and the effects of back-to-work legislation at Air Canada.