Congress calls for action against abuses of day laborers in Canada
The Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union urged the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Labor to review the conditions of Mexican agricultural workers in Canada. The complaints indicate abuses, labor exploitation and extreme working conditions.
The point of agreement, circulated to both agencies, requests to strengthen the dissemination and promotion of the rights of those who participate in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (PTAT).
“Various international organizations, civil society organizations and direct testimonies have shown that said program, in its current design and operation, reproduces structural conditions that violate the human and labor rights of the participants,” the document states.
Dependency and isolation
The majority work in remote rural areas, without public transportation. Access to shopping, health or communication depends on the employer. This limits their freedom of movement and makes it difficult to contact consulates or legal support, generating geographical isolation and daily dependency.
Senators and deputies from all parties agreed: “Without binding binational mechanisms, acts of abuse continue in a context of impunity.”
Magnitude of the program
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the PTAT went from 203 workers in 1974 to more than 145,000 placed between 2019 and June 2024. The figure reflects the social impact of the program, but also the urgency of strengthening consular protection and supervision.




