It is
very disheartening to know that anti-worker, anti-new immigrant; anti- human
work culture is being promoted in the entire Greater Toronto Area (GTA). There
are a few Companies who are hiring employees directly. More than 90% of Companies
are hiring through Employment Agencies. These Agencies do nothing - they just occupy
a room, put few chairs and start advertising on free web sites about the
availability of a job. They are the main source who supplies labor to the
Companies who don’t want to be responsible for various issues but want their
job to be done in an as professional manner as their full time workers but at a
lower wage.
The
Company pays the Agency and then the Agency pays the Workers. The Worker does
not know how much the Agency is getting from the Company in lieu of his work.
Most of the time it is minimum wage without any coverage or benefits as it is available
to a full time worker. I have seen people working for Agencies for years but
they were not hired by the Companies. They suffer a lot due to the lack of
medical coverage because working with an Agency does not provide them with this
option. I have seen several cases of new immigrants returning to their native
countries when they get sick and even for dental or eye care. It’s pathetic to
know that there is this kind of a deficiency in the Canadian system which can
easily be curbed but due to vested interest they are being overlooked at the
cost of poor immigrants. Companies are seemingly more interested in getting major
jobs done by Agency hired workers as they are free to say “No” any moment to
such a worker. It’s an open issue for research – What is the production of such
workers in the GTA or as a whole in Canada? What is its ratio in the GDP?
Canada
is known for having the highest Human Resources Staff in the world but it
having such practices available is in complete contrast of its ethos. They are
not only against the interest of labor but also against the national interest.
If they are gone, the Companies will be hiring its labor forces directly and
will definitely be paying more than the Agency. With more purchase power in
hands, the worker will not live in a rented house instead he will buy a house.
If he has a house, he will have to have a mortgage. To continue paying his
mortgage he will work with more devotion. So, it’s all about the money circulation
in the market which makes the economy grow. Shrinkage on the purchase power of the
worker will definitely have a negative impact on the economy. Employers have to
understand what they are gaining in short term by hiring a worker from an
Agency and what they are losing in long term and its implications for economy
and the country as well. Government should immediately ban all Employment Agencies
in the country, because it’s a loss making venture. The Companies will easily
absorb the entire Agencies’ guys who are basically from the Human Resource
department.
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