Most new Chinese immigrants in Canada low-wage laborers  

加拿大华人新移民工资偏低 逾半从事体力劳动

据加拿大《世界日报》报道，由全加华人协进会(平权会)多伦多分会发起的“华人新移民工作状况和经历”小区研究报告8日出炉，显示半数讲普通话新移民收入仅为最低工资或低于最低工资标准，甚至有无偿劳动或无偿加班的情况。[查看全文]

(ECNS) — Half of the new Mandarin-speaking immigrants in Canada receive minimum wage or lower, as well as engage in non-remunerative work or unpaid overtime, according to a community study report released by the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC).

The survey was conducted among 300 new Chinese immigrants from 10 community service institutions, as well as students at Toronto University, who have immigrated to Canada in the past 7 years, including temporary laborers, international students, refugees and persons without identity.

Thirty-three community researchers dispatched by the CCNC conducted the survey by making phone calls or online interviews between February and April of this year.

Fifty-six percent of the interviewed engage in manual work at factories, supermarkets and retail industries, 22 percent engage in office work in the IT, education and finance sectors, while another 20 percent work in services and medical professions such as personal support and customer services. The rest work in such professions as cosmetics, cleaning, casinos, government, NGOs, and transportation.

One noteworthy finding is that 20 percent of the interviewed receive wages lower than the minimum wage, while only 48 percent receive pay above the minimum standards. The study also reveals that most people have poor knowledge of wage law. However, some choose to remain silent for fear of losing their jobs.

The study shows that only 53 percent enjoy paid vacations, while 55 percent are without an annual paid vacation. In addition, 40-50 percent do not enjoy other employee benefits, and as many as 70 percent say they never receive extra pay for working overtime.

Many interviewed said language barriers constitute the prime reason for the unfair treatment in the workplace.

About 60 percent of the interviewed came to Canada less than 5 years ago, with 58 percent of them being women. Fifty-six percent of the interviewed are aged between 29 and 56. The study shows that only half of them speak English during work, while the other half speak little or no English at all, according to Tommy Zheng, one author of the study.

"In this regard, both the government and community service institutions should provide more education and training to these new immigrants," Zheng said.

The study concludes that Mandarin-speaking immigrants have become a growing force in the local labor market. Thus it is hoped that more studies will be conducted on unfair treatment and human rights violations in the workplace in order to push for reforms.