Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 12th, 2009

[Richelyn Tongson]

On every 15th and 30th of the month, it was $500. It was $500 on every 15th and $500 on the 30th.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

How long did that last?

[Richelyn Tongson]

I started February 22, and until March 1 it was $215. And then March 1 to March 15, $500; March 15 to March 30, $500; and then April 1 to April 15, $500; and then April 15 to May 1, $500; May 1 to May 15, $500; and then May 15 to May 30, $500.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

You were there from mid-February to mid-May. Is that right?

[Richelyn Tongson]

I quit on May 30 at noon because Dr. Neil was yelling at me and he said he doesn't like me because I called the Intercede, and I called my brother to pick me up because I was thinking I wasn't going to stay there any more.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

If I do a quick calculation, we're talking about $3,000 in total, in cash, for that period.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

That's the last question.

[Richelyn Tongson]

I did not calculate it, but maybe you are right. I did not calculate.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay, thank you very much.

Ms. Mathyssen is going to ask some questions.

Ms. Mathyssen, you have seven minutes.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to say thank you to Ms. Gordo and Ms. Tongson for coming to the committee. I know that it can be very intimidating, and I admire your courage in coming before this committee.

I have some questions. I would like to start with Ms. Velasco.

What is the nature of your advocacy for live-in caregivers? What precisely is it that you do?

[Pura Velasco]

I came in as a live-in caregiver myself in the 1990s. What we do is basically provide support to caregivers who are dealing with immigration and employment concerns. We also advocate; for example, we talk to certain politicians about our issues because a lot of our caregivers have problems with health, and a lot of caregivers have problems with employment and immigration concerns.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

And is that the nature of your advocacy for Ms. Gordo and Ms. Tongson at this time?

[Pura Velasco]

Yes.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

I'd like to ask a question of both Ms. Tongson and Ms. Gordo. There has been a great deal of concern among parliamentarians, particularly at this committee, and at my committee, the committee on the status of women, in regard to how migrant workers and live-in caregivers are treated.

I wonder, what could the federal government do right now to protect you, to offer you a better circumstance?

[Magdalene Gordo]

I would pray and wish they could grant landed status for caregivers, because we are very vulnerable to abuse from employers.

Thank you.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

And Ms. Tongson.

[Richelyn Tongson]

I would suggest that please do the landed status so that there would be no employer who would harass us, threaten us, for we wish only for our immigration here in Canada.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

If there were a program to explain things to you, to provide you with information about your rights, would that be helpful as well? Should the government do that?

[Pura Velasco]

Can I answer that question?

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Yes, please.

[Pura Velasco]

I think providing education is good. Over the years, I've been a volunteer on this issue. Over the years we've discovered that despite the education the government provides to the live-in caregivers and other temporary foreign workers about their rights, a lot of caregivers are not able to assert their rights. For example, the mandatory live-in requirement of the live-in caregiver program provides employers with extra intimidation power. When you're talking about employment rights, just like what happened to these two women, they are not able to assert their rights inside the home, because it's the boss who says what they should do and what they can do. It's very difficult for them to say no to long working hours, difficult jobs to do, or even violations of the provisions of the live-in caregiver program. Because it's the boss who will say to do this or do that. The situation at the house is not equal. We think it is important that the caregiver should be given landed status so that the playing field in the house is equal. If they want to go and look for other employment, they can easily do that, because they have landed status. They don't have to fear being deported.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. Gordo and Ms. Tongson, did you feel intimidated? Did you feel afraid or insecure when you were working in the Dhalla household?

[Magdalene Gordo]

Yes, we did. I was mentally tortured and physically stressed.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Could you explain how you felt physically stressed and mentally tortured?

[Magdalene Gordo]

We worked very early in the morning and we ended up working until eleven o'clock or midnight, working very long hours. You're being insulted. You can see the difference. They intimidate you. They show you that you're really a slave. They do not show you love or compassion.