Canadian Trucking Alliance, also known as the CTA, is a body responsible for protecting the image of the country’s trucking Industry. It has been in the news recently for several issues that it would like the Canadian Government to address urgently concerning the wealthy of truck drivers.
For starters, this body would like the authorities to ensure all foreign workers under the immigration program are protected from possible abuse. They would like the Government to put it as a priority item since the safety of immigrants is an issue of utmost importance.
Reports of Exploitation
This request could be due to some factors that the CTA feels their members are exposed to in their day to the daily work environment. The announcement for protection came after an investigative study by the Globe and Mail newspaper.
They released a damning report that suggests that some trucking firms in British Columbia, including the immigration officials, have been doing things against the law. There have been illegal charges to temporary employees working as semi-truck drivers.
There is more revelation from the reports that show the drivers of semi-trucks do not have prior experience in managing such vehicles. They also do not know how to handle heavy loads being transported on the highways.
Winter makes it worse for the drivers since there is snow on the highways, and this makes it difficult for inexperienced drivers. The report also shows that the drivers have been working for long hours without rest. The compensation is too low despite working for long, and this was termed as unfair.
Whenever employees work under such conditions, one may be tempted to wonder why they are working under exploitation. Of course, the employees were asked why they would prefer working on conditions considered as harsh. The answer paints a dull picture facing most temporary workers without permanent residency.
In this case, the semi-truck drivers feel that working under such conditions will raise their chances of getting permanent residency status in Canada.
