HLST 1011: Healthcare on the Frontlines - Zaara Syed

Status and Health

FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS &

UNEMPLOYMENT

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Female Migrant Workers are more likely to be unemployed,

underemployed, or face complications in career

advancement due to obstacles revolving around both their

immigration status and their gender.

WHY DOES THIS SUBPOPULATION

EXPERIENCE THIS INEQUITY?

International Education and Experiences

is often not accepted by employers and institutions.
This can be seen as a form of systemic discrimination, as

these policies carry a sense of superiority when it comes to

Western knowledge and qualifications.

unemployment low-skill labour attaining local education

"I was discouraged. It seemed I would not be

considered for any professional positions that were

close to what I had before"

-- Cindy Chan, migrant worker from Hong Kong

Social Roles and Gender Norms

can prevent female immigrants from gaining
employment.
Factors like children, especially during closure of
schools and daycares during COVID-19, and
housework, delayed the start of women's careers.

unemployment part-time work temporary work

"Some people come here thinking, I'm going to do a

program I wanted to do from my home country.

But then you come and you do that program here

and find that you have no employment,"

-- Donnette Johnson, migrant worker from Jamaica

THE CONSEQUENCES

isolation and lack of social supports, feeling barred from

opportunities, and decline in mental health and wellness

 HLST 1011: Healthcare on the Frontlines - Zaara Syed

Status and Health

COMMUNITY

GROUP:

IMMIGRANT

WOMEN

ADVISORY

COMMITTEE

IWAC is a non-profit community group made of

volunteers. It aims to close gaps and break down career

barriers for immigrant and refugee women, like

themselves, through the development of ‘social

innovation projects’, and advocacy to address gender

equity issues and status discrimination in workplaces.

IWAC uses a targeted approach to tackle

their inequity is as it believes that

immigration and sexism are barriers to

equitable access to employment

opportunities and career enhancement.

THE SOCIAL INNOVATION PROJECTS

Storytelling Project
"Redefining Canadian Experience" received $2,100 in

funding from the Vancouver Foundation and aims to

highlight systemic discrimination in the job market

through the experiences of real female migrant

workers.

Building Bridges
This is a leadership and networking program,

which helps women improve their

communication, presentation and public

speaking skills, as well as gives them the

opportunity to build connections with other

immigrants and network with employers.

Free Childcare
A barrier to women being inaccessible to jobs is

often the inability to afford daycare/childcare.

IWAC provides free childcare in order to

promote and advance migrant women's careers.

Free ESL Classes

IWAC conducts free English classes for migrant

women to help overcome the language barrier

that may prevent them from getting accepted for

a job.