Research Library

From encountering confederate flags to finding refuge in spaces of solidarity: Filipino temporary foreign workers’ experiences of the public in Alberta

Abstract
In this paper, I illustrate how race and class hierarchies mark Filipino temporary foreign workers as foreign 'others'. Because public spaces are structured in gendered and racialized ways, Filipino migrants have to carefully navigate public spaces to ensure their safety and create their own spaces of belonging that give them refuge against xenophobia. I argue further that the paradoxical discourses of multicultural inclusion and economic protectionism invoke the figure of the 'good' migrant and the 'bad' migrant. These, in turn, promote contradictory actions towards migrants, whose public acceptance hinge on wildly variable and changing notions of inclusion/ exclusion and economic acceptability. These lead to the passage of inconsistent policies where migrants are read as being 'good' one day, and as being 'bad' the next.
Authors: Ethel Tungohan Publication Date: 1/1/2017

Publication Type: Journal Article
Notes

Location

Edmonton, Alberta

Community organizations

NA

Integration timeline

At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?

NA

Key recommendations

Provision of permanent residency to foreign workers

Gaps identified

The author points to the gap in multiculturalism policy of Canada, arguing that it’s performative and race-based and, hence, perpetuating the notions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ migrants. Moreover, the Canadian government’s changes to the TFWP in 2011, known as the Four Year In-Four Year Out rule added limitations to how long migrant workers can be employed and present in the country, so that they cannot apply for permanant residency.

Key populations

Temporary foreign workers; Filipino

Key findings

This paper is looking at how the discrepancies in Canadian multiculturalism and foreign worker policies are impacting the attitude of host members towards the temporary migrant workers. The findings show that the Filipino foreign workers are feeling not welcomed in Canada due to inconsistencies between Canadian government policies and public ideology in particular. As a result, the Filipino temporary workers create their own safe spaces of solidarity in order to escape from racism and xenopheoba.

Open-access – No


ISBN: 1356-2576
Collections discrimination-and-belonging , employment

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