A CUPE child care worker is speaking out about the unfolding crisis caused by drastic federal immigration cuts. CUPE 5575 President Mehak Kapoor says cuts to immigration levels are forcing her to leave her job, and are hurting workers, families and communities.

Her temporary work permit expired on March 16, forcing her to resign from her job and get ready to leave the country. Many other CUPE members across the country are in the same situation, including workers in child care, health care, long-term care, K-12 education and post-secondary education.

“When immigration policy changes, it doesn’t change paperwork - it changes people’s lives,” she told delegates to CUPE Ontario’s annual conference for social services workers in the days leading up to her permit expiry.

Kapoor is an early childhood educator at the Learning Enrichment Foundation in Toronto. She started her education and early work experience in India. She continued her studies in Canada and got a federal Post-Graduate Work Permit that’s allowed her to make deep connections with children and families.

“When you work with children, relationships matter. Children trust their educator. Families trust the people caring for their children. But immigration uncertainty can force workers to leave their jobs,” said Kapoor.

Child care worker and CUPE 2484 President Jess Tomas introduced Kapoor to conference delegates. Tomas described how migrant workers face exploitation and precarious work in many sectors, including child care.

“We’re so low-staffed. We’re not able to take sick days. We’re not able to take vacation days. And yet these qualified folks who have come here are being sent back. And guess what? In five years, they’re going to lure another cohort over here. And we will have another invisible immigrant and migrant workforce that has been used up and spit back out,” they said.

Forced to leave job and union

Kapoor is losing her livelihood because her work permit is expiring and won’t be extended.

The federal government, through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, made sweeping changes to immigration policies at the end of 2024. An estimated 2.3 million people will lose their work permits and risk deportation between 2025 and 2027. 

Kapoor doesn’t want to leave a job she loves. “It’s so heartbreaking because I don’t want to leave my kids,” she said.

“It’s them saying their first words, them taking their first steps, or them learning my name and calling my name, or when they come in and see me and run for a hug.”

Kapoor is also being forced to leave her position as CUPE 5575 president at a critical time for the local, which is bargaining a first collective agreement. Kapoor helped organize the Learning Enrichment Foundation’s 24 worksites when the employer announced a wage cut to workers’ already-low pay.

“Before our place got unionized, it was really hard for me to speak up or people to speak up, because there’s always that subtle discrimination because of your status at your workplace. Having a union helped create a space where workers could speak up, share their experience, and support each other,” she said.

Immigration cuts worsen workforce crisis

The child care sector relies heavily on immigrants and workers on temporary permits. About 20 per cent of Learning Enrichment Foundation workers are on temporary work permits that expire this year. Kapoor said it’s already hard to find and keep child care workers because of low wages and poor working conditions – issues she and other child care workers and advocates are fighting to improve.

The federal immigration cuts mean child care staffing shortages are about to get much worse and waitlists even longer.

“You don’t want to keep those people that have worked here, that have contributed to the Canadian economy? It doesn’t make sense,” she said.

Kapoor questions how the $10-a-day child care program can succeed when Canada is forcing migrant workers to leave or work precarious jobs, instead of welcoming them as permanent residents.

“You have a care crisis right now” she says. “I don’t know what makes them think there’s going to be more workers coming in if this is how it’s going to work.”

Stepping up for migrant workers

Tomas called on conference delegates to step up for fellow union members who are migrant workers.

“CUPE has more members with temporary immigration status than ever before. As leaders in this room, you were elected to represent your people,” they said. “If I’m not one of the people speaking up for those in my workplace, who else is going to do that?”

Kapoor stressed how important unionizing has been for her.

“Being part of a union has meant having a voice, having support, and knowing that there are people standing with me all the time. Because solidarity never depends on somebody’s immigration status.”

She said locals can bargain protections for migrant workers like leaves of absence and reference letters that would help protect their jobs and status.

Kapoor urged delegates to keep building worker-to-worker solidarity, and to fight to change harmful federal immigration policies.

“We need to recognize that the people who are working on temporary permit are workers first. Labour rights, workplace protection, and dignity should never depend on somebody’s immigration status.

“We need clear and fair pathways to permanent residency, especially for workers in essential sectors like child care or social services. If someone studies here, works here, and contributes to the community, they should have real opportunity to stay.”

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Send a message to federal immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab demanding permanent residency, renewed work permits, and an end to exploitative closed permits.

Support members in your local who have temporary immigration status. Find CUPE’s bargaining guide for members with temporary work permits, fact sheets, and other resources to support migrant members at cupe.ca/migrant-rights

Read more about Mehak and migrant workers like her in this Toronto Star article https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/foreign-care-workers-working-in-canada-face-steep-barriers-to-staying/article_1313088c-d747-4a5e-a19c-fd9a22a7202d.html