Immigrant workers and workplace health and safety

Immigrant workers are expected to account for almost all net labour force growth in Canada as of 2011. Understanding the work experiences of recent immigrants (newcomers) to Canada will help ensure their smooth integration into Canadian society.

Researchers at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) have conducted a number of important studies on recent immigrants, particularly in the area of workplace injuries, illness and compensation. These studies have resulted in important findings, as well as the development of tools and resources to help prevent workplace injuries and disabilities among newcomers. These are listed here.

Why study immigrant workers?

This backgrounder explains the workplace challenges facing immigrant workers.

Experiences of newcomers injured on the job

An IWH study explores the experiences of new immigrants after they were injured on the job, including their knowledge of their rights, encounters with employers and health-care providers, and experiences with injury reporting and claim filing.

Full study report (2011): : Immigrant workers' experiences of injury reporting and claim filing (588 KB)
Plain-language report (2011): Delicate dances: New immigrants' experiences after a work-related injury (1002 KB)
At Work article (2011): Immigrant worker safety: IWH develops OHS information tool for newcomers

National scan of occupational health and safety and workers' compensation resources for newcomers

The IWH study above on the experiences of injured immigrant workers revealed that the resources available in Canada to meet newcomers' information needs on the topics of employment standards, occupational health and safety and workers' compensation had not been docuemnted. To fill this gap, IWH undertook a national scan of these resources for newcomers.

Full report (2011): Review of safety resources for recent immigrants entering the Canadian workforce (1.2 MB)
Plenary presentation (2011): A national scan of safety resources for recent immigrants entering the Canadian workforce

Toolkit for teaching occupational health and safety and workers' compensation to newcomers

In conjunction with a community advisory committee, IWH developed a toolkit called Prevention is the Best Medicine to teach newcomers to Ontario about their occupational health and safety and workers' compensation rights and responsibilities. The toolkit is made up of 11 modules, including faciliators' guides, presentation slides and handouts for students, which are designed to be delivered to recent immigrants who are preparing to enter the labour force.

Teaching module (2011): Prevention is the Best Medicine

Work issues of newcomers to Canada

In order to explore the work issues of newcomers at a national level, IWH held a forum on immigration, work and health in Vancouver, B.C., in 2009.

Selected presentations and outcomes (2009): Immigrant workers' forum 2009

Over-qualification and the health of recent immigrants

The effect of job over-qualification on the health of recent immigrants, including both their general health and mental health, was examined in a study from IWH.

Absract (2010): The prevalence of over-qualification and its association with health status among occupationally active new immigrants to Canada
At Work article (2011): Over-qualified immigrants at risk of poorer mental health

Work experiences of newcomers compared to Canadian-born workers

IWH researchers have conducted a number of studies on the differing work experiences of recent immigrants compared to Canadian-born workers.