03/06/2026
Migrante & Anakbayan Victoria stand in solidarity with the 40+ Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) facing potential loss of immigration status in Vancouver Island, specifically within the areas of Victoria and Parksville.
In a Patrol Abroad* news segment featuring Bayanihan Community Centre and its affiliate organizations, they share the current plight of around 27 Filipino TFWโs based in Victoria who have lost or are about to lose their status due to their work permits expiring. Additionally, it was brought to our attention by a trusted community member in the area that around 20+ TFWโs, both Filipino and non-Filipinos, based in Parksville, BC are also at-risk of losing their status. In both cases, the TFWโs have either been denied permit renewal or have a hard time finding employers with a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). They are now facing the hard choice of being pushed to spend hundreds or thousands of dollarsโ potentially dealing with exorbitant debtโ to find a way to stay in Canada or go back to their home countries.
As Filipino migrants, going back to the Philippines shouldnโt be a hard choice to make. Many of us feel homesick and have families, friends, and other loved ones we miss from our home provinces.
However, when basic living expenses such as food, housing, hydro, and transportation cost more than the average daily minimum wage (PHP503 / $11.73CAD)** across the country, then itโs not surprising when Filipino migrants cringe at the thought of going back.
We also shouldnโt forget the children of these TFWโs. Migrant youth face another layer of precarity as they essentially lose their status as soon as they graduate high-school and are not eligible for an open work permit visa. Most are THEN forced to apply for a student visa and pay exorbitant international student fees that push their families further into a cycle of debt , exploitation, and poverty.
These cases should not be ignored or swept under the rug.
They are a clear symptom of the ongoing neglect of the Philippine government in providing livable wages and dignified livelihood for our families back in the Philippines. While they continue to use our tax-dollars to fund their expensive cars & international trips, the Filipino people are left to fend for themselves and suffer from lack of safe infrastructure and social services.
It also serves as clear evidence of the Canadian governmentโs ongoing lack of care towards immigrants and only seeing migrant workers as disposable.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reinforces that international labor standards apply to all workers, including undocumented migrants, and calls for fair treatment, social protection, and non-discrimination.
Countries that operate temporary labor migration programs are urged to reform or transition toward models that prioritize decent work, rights protection, and genuine development outcomes for both migrant and local workers.
In a 2025 Amnesty International report, Canadaโs TFW program has been deemed as breeding ground for modern day slavery due to the conditions that temporary foreign workers experience.
We are bound to see an exodus of Filipino migrants losing their status and coming face-to-face with making difficult choices, and potentially getting taken advantage of by profit-hungry immigration consultancies as weโve seen with The Promised Land Consultancy case.
Itโs important now more than ever to build trusted networks within our communities and to rely on each other for emotional and material support!
Itโs very easy to lose hope and become disillusioned when facing intense adversity so As conditions worsen in โVictoriaโ and other parts of Vancouver Island, let us remember that the power to fight for our rights and welfare comes with collective action!
Let us come together to fight for our rights and dignity as Filipino migrants and fight for a liberated and democratic Philippine society that our families can proudly come home to!
If you are dealing with immigration/workplace issues or are looking for a community to talk to, we encourage our kababayans to reach out to us via Facebook or Instragram!
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- Patrol Abroad (March 2026) โIlang Pinoy TFW sa Victoria, BC, nanganganib na mapabalik sa Pilipinasโ, www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_GHqyvnkSU
- IBON Foundation (Jan 2026) โMinimum Wage and Family Living Wage Per Regionโ, www.ibon.org/flw-regl-2601/
- Amnesty International (Jan 2025) โCanada has destroyed meโ: Labour exploitation of migrant workers in Canadaโ https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr20/8807/2025/en/
- CBC News (May 2025) โโThis alleged pyramid scheme targets Filipino migrant workers, promising a life in Canadaโ, www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/the-promise-land-consultancy-alleged-pyramid-scheme
