Your rights and workplace safety
Your rights are protected
You have rights protected by law while working in Ontario, including rights related to:
- employment
- housing
- healthcare
- protection from abuse
The Canadian government has resources in 8 languages (including Latin American Spanish) to help you understand your rights as an international agri-food worker.
Read Employment and Social Development Canada’s guide to your rights as an international agri-food worker (also available in Latin American Spanish).
Employment rights and obligations in Ontario
You have rights under the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act and the Employment Standards Act.
The Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act prohibits recruiters and employers from:
- charging you any fees or recovering any costs, including any related to hiring you (with 1 exception related to some seasonal agriculture workers)
- taking your property and documents, such as passport or work permit
- intimidating or penalizing you for asking about or asserting your rights under the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act
The Employment Standards Act covers employment standards such as the minimum wage and limits on hours of work.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a claim or call the Employment Standards Information Centre at
Report misuse or abuse
You can report misuse or abuse that may be happening to yourself or other workers hired through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Call the toll-free Service Canada Confidential Tips Line at
You can talk to a Service Canada agent in more than 200 languages.
Get help if your employer is breaking the rules
Learn how to report employer abuse safely and confidentially in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program through this resource from the Government of Canada.
Consular offices
If you need assistance with understanding and exercising your rights, contact your country’s consular office to reach your country’s officials or representatives.
Housing
As part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, employers may be required to provide suitable housing for IAWs. Learn more about housing requirements under the following streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program:
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program housing requirements
- Agricultural Stream program requirements
- Low-wage Stream program housing requirements
Workplace health and safety
You have the right to a safe workplace. Call the Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre at
- you believe conditions in a workplace are unsafe
- if you or someone else is experiencing harassment or violence on the job
The number operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and service is available in 23 languages.
Free online training in workplace safety is also available to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. You can also download a written booklet of the module in English and French or request a PDF copy of the workbook in other languages by emailing awarenessfeedback@ontario.ca.
Resources for working outdoors
Know how to recognize heat related illness or heat stress symptoms and how to manage heat stress when it happens. Learn more about the dangers of heat stress and how to keep yourself safe in extreme heat conditions.
For additional information about heat stress explore the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers Heat Stress Toolkit.
Ontario can experience wildfires that impact air quality over large areas of the province. Learn how to protect yourself during wildfires or poor air quality events.
Working outdoors can expose you to different insects and ticks that may impact your health. Take precautions to protect yourself against insect bites, particularly if you are prone to allergic reactions from certain insects, and know how to stay safe in areas with a high risk of ticks.
Pesticide training
As a farm worker, you may encounter tasks that require the use of pesticides or chemicals. You must have training before using certain pesticides. Your employer must ensure that you have the information, instruction and supervision to work safely with any chemicals in your workplace.
Learn more about required training and working safely with pesticides and chemicals through the Ontario Pesticide Education Program or call
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board coverage
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is an agency of the provincial government that provides support and insurance for workers injured on the job in Ontario, including wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and return-to-work services.
The WSIB provides a guide for foreign agricultural workers who have been injured at work.
Contact the WSIB at
Farm machinery and tractor safety
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association hosts video resources developed by the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) for driving on rural roads and operating farm machinery.
The WSPS also have a resource hub with topics on working safely with farm machinery and tractors. Go to the “Language” tab to access these resources in your preferred language.
Additional safety resources
The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers offer workplace safety information to IAWs including resources in several languages including Spanish, Thai and Tagalog.
Emergencies
Ontario has an emergency preparedness system in place to alert people when emergencies happen such as ice storms, floods, wildfires or nuclear emergencies.
During an emergency, it is important to follow the instructions from police, municipal authorities and emergency response personnel. If you need assistance, contact a support organization in your area.
Learn more about how to prepare for an emergency.
About human trafficking
Human trafficking can include recruiting, harbouring or controlling a person’s movements using force, coercion or deception. Learn about human trafficking, including how it can happen, who is at risk and warning signs.
If there is immediate danger or if you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 9-1-1 or your local police service.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, call the Canadian human trafficking hotline at
Labour trafficking
Labour trafficking is a form of human trafficking that involves recruiting, moving or holding victims to coerce them into doing any kind of work. This can include workers who are:
- deceived or coerced into a work contract
- exploited for their labour through unsafe work
- made to work excessive hours
- underpaid, not paid or forced to give most of their earnings to the trafficker
- kept in a precarious situation through debt bondage, violence, and threats (including the loss of a work permit, losing immigration status or deportation)
- experiencing inconsistent increases to accommodations and goods
- given false promises of citizenship and payments for citizenship processing
- given no information on employer or place of employment
- prevented access to communication devices (phones, laptops), basic amenities and personal care items
- provided inappropriate medical interventions or experiencing a lack of medical treatment
If you or someone you know may be subject to labour trafficking, you can share tips and get help by contacting the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Divisional Intelligence Unit at labourtrafficking@ontario.ca.