Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for having me.
My name is Pinky Paglingayen. I came here in 2004 from the Philippines under the live-in caregiver program. I was employed by a family of four in Thornhill, Ontario. This family demanded that I pay $3,000 in exchange for their helping me to come here. I felt as if I had no choice. Several days later they released me from my employment. That's when I felt so cheated, abandoned, and alone.
In 2006, I moved to Oakville to work for another family, but was dismissed when my employer found out in 2007 that I was pregnant. My employer did not give me my last paycheque and vacation pay. As a result my OHIP was cut off because I was on an open permit and not yet a permanent resident. I felt as if my rights as a worker were not respected simply because my employer did not like the fact that I was pregnant. I had no choice but to leave because I did not want anything to jeopardize my ability to stay in Canada, and also to obtain my permanent resident status here.
After almost 10 years I still see the same issues that I faced happening to many caregivers and temporary foreign workers. That is why, since gaining my permanent residency here, I've made it my job and life mission to support other caregivers and temporary foreign workers. Over the years I've met with hundreds of such migrant workers across the country. Their stories are similar to mine, sometimes better, sometimes much worse. The same exploitation by recruiters, asking for more fees, the same mistreatment and abuse by employers. All the migrant workers I know want one thing, and that is basic human dignity. They want the same rights as everyone else. They want to be with their loved ones. You have the ability right now to change the laws that impact migrant workers, and that means full permanent residency rights and expedited family reunification for workers in the country. The ability to apply for permanent residency should be extended to other members of the temporary foreign worker program. Future migrant workers should come with full permanent residency, family reunification, and real labour rights. That's all we want to see happening in the future.
Thank you very much.