Quebec wants to better protect foreign workers

Quebec wants to better inform and protect foreign workers who are particularly numerous in the agricultural sector. (File photo)

Faced with the cases of abuse that have made the headlines in recent months, Quebec wants to better protect and inform temporary foreign workers.

To do this, the actions of the Commission des standards, equity, health and safety at work (CNESST) with this workforce, their representatives and their employers will be reinforced, announced Wednesday the Minister of Labor and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region and the Nord-du-Québec region, Jean Boulet.

Among other measures, the Prevention Squad for temporary foreign workers has become permanent. Its mandate will also be broadened to reach these people and their employers in a greater number of sectors of economic activity, such as retail trade, accommodation, catering, health and social assistance, manufacturing, food, in addition to agriculture.

In order to increase the Squad's intervention force, a dozen prevention agents will be added during the period summer to the permanent team, already made up of a dozen people, in order to reach foreign workers in the agricultural sector in particular.

In addition to the expansion of the Action by the Escouade, the aim is to better support the workplaces and better monitor the workplaces of this category of employees.

More details coming soon