I am Gina Bahiwal from the Philippines. I came to Canada in 2008 under the temporary foreign worker program, so I have been here for eight years. I worked as a vegetable packer for four years and moved to B.C. with the hope of getting permanent residency under the B.C. PNP. This only happened when I learned about the four-year rule, which was implemented in April 2011.
I had to pay a recruiter for the housekeeping job. While in B.C., I did not stop my advocacy work for migrant workers. I tried to help other migrant workers and I ended up losing my job. I had to pay another recruiter for my food and counter attendant job at a McDonald's restaurant in Hope, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, I did not meet the family income threshold, so my B.C. PNP application was denied.
The four-year rule is making us more vulnerable. Being here in Canada for four years or more, we have no life to go back to in our countries. We are separated from our families and most of us, migrant workers, have lost our families. One thing more, we don't have jobs to go back to.
We came with a closed work permit and we have to stick to our employers even when they are abusive. It is hard for us to get another job or a new job because of our closed work permit. Most employers are dependent on recruiters and we pay thousands to get employment.
Access to health care is a problem for migrant women and injured workers. Migrant women who get pregnant and fired from work do not have access to health care. Injured workers who are being sent home cannot access health care here in Canada.
I have been talking to many migrant workers across Canada and we are shouting the same thing. It's for status upon arrival. If other migrant workers, under the skilled category, have status upon arrival, then why can't we have that too?
They come here with their families. Why are we separated from our families?
Yet, all of us come here with the same purpose, to work and make the Canadian economy better.