MASS LAYOFFS LEADS TO PRECARIOUS WORK FOR UNSETTLED IMMIGRANTS

Toronto’s Ryerson University Centre conducted recent study for Labor Management Relationships. Ted Rogers School of Management revealed that the results of this study disclosed that older immigrants are being forced to opt for temporary and precarious jobs with very few benefits.

The immigrants have been laid off from their regular jobs due to old age and other reasons. According to Winnie Ng, lead author behind the study and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)-Sam Gindin chair in democracy and social justice, the study was conducted to understand the status of the worker groups after Progressive Molded Products plant closed down five years ago.

Study Documentations 

The study intended to find out whether these groups of worker were able to find a stable job or not. 2400 immigrants lost their jobs when the largest manufacturing company of auto parts in the Greater Toronto Area closed. To come to definite conclusion experiences of 78 of the older radicalized workers were recorded. The company closed in 2008 due to bankruptcy.

The study reveals that almost half the amount of workers, who had lost their permanent jobs, are compelled to work on poor wages in temporary jobs sans any benefits. The findings reveal that these immigrants are in worst condition than they were when they came to Canada for the first time. Due to the economic crisis, the immigrant workers have to work in unsettled and highly competitive labor market. Other barriers such as gender, race, and age are also a factor against getting a permanent job.

Key Findings of the Study

Two-thirds of the workers are still struggling to find a permanent and stable job whereas one third of the workers have been lucky to get a full-time permanent employment.

Almost 40 percent of the workers working in precarious conditions are now working on casual work, working on- call or in other type of temporary jobs.

The current wages and the benefits of these immigrant workers are comparatively much lower than what they used to earn in their earlier permanent jobs.

The study takes a harder look at the struggles faced by the immigrant workers in the current labor market. It is an important disclosure that show the grueling situation through which the old immigrants are going through in Canada. It is also an indication of what the future might offer to the young new immigrants of Canada when they become old.