Workplace Discrimination of Canadian Born People

The Truth of Workplace Discrimination in Canada

INTRODUCTION

The problem of workplace discrimination is common in many developed countries. There are different types of discrimination, such as sex, age, religion, race, nationality, and many others, which may be experienced in the workplace. The paper is dedicated to the problem of discrimination against Canadian-born people of color and South Asian immigrants. It outlines many reasons why they cannot find their dream jobs, even despite having the required education. The workers emphasized the negative consequences of not having the ability to find decent work. In addition, these people suggested how the situation can be improved by various long-term and short-term strategies.

STRATEGIES TO FIND A BETTER JOB

When the interviewers were asked about the strategies that they could offer to have a better life and to be able to find a job, most of them only complained and demanded certain actions from the government. Both focus groups answered the same question but had different views on it. The probable reason for this is a different understanding of the question.

One of the focus groups is Canadian-born people of color. Their difficulty is the fact that most of them do not have a good education. Having a deep understanding of the issue, they seek other opportunities, such as training courses, programs, etc. For this reason, they are aware of different programs that can help them to achieve better results. Such programs are Job Connects (it pays 50% of employees’ rate), job fairs, OW, Goodwill, job training, resume workshop, COSTI, JVS, GED program, a work-study program, and OSAP (Ruth 2009). These programs have some disadvantages, but, in general, they are very useful and can be used by everyone. The core problem is that some courses or programs are available only once in two years. People that attended these courses were very satisfied since they provided them with good jobs at least for a certain period. Many people emphasized the importance of a resume workshop since it is the main point when applying for a job.

Unlike Canadian-born people of color, South Asian immigrants remarked only one program – Corporate Training Readiness Program (Surgandha 2009). Other claims were only demanded by the government and society. The lives of these immigrants are difficult, since they have a degree in their own country, while in Canada it means nothing. Nevertheless, they do not understand that the quality of education is much higher in Canada than in many Asian countries. As a result, a person with Canadian education cannot be treated the same way as a person with an Indian or any other diploma.

There is a large gap between these two discriminated groups. Both of them are treated inferior in comparison with white Canadians by society and cannot get a decent job. However, while many Canadian-born people of color have accommodated such conditions and search for solutions, South Asian immigrants cannot accept such a situation and do not want to work in positions that involve manual labor. They want their salaries to be higher, as well as to receive help from the government during the first several years of living in Canada. The main problem is that people are desperate and disappointed. They do not believe that anything can be changed, especially by their involvement. Asian immigrants think that they do not have to participate in these changes, since this is a merely governmental problem.

INTERPRETATION OF LABOR MARKET EXPERIENCE

Both Canadian-born people of color and south Asian immigrants cannot find decent full-time employment. Employers often refuse even to have an interview with such people or, as it seems to interviewers, choose a person with worse skills. Two focus groups gave similar answers to the question about core reasons for employers not to hide them or give the hardest part of work to them.

Colored people of Canadian origin appear to be more concerned with such discrimination, since this is their country, and they were born here. Because many parents used to be immigrants in the past, their children did not receive good education (Ruth 2009). For this reason, many Canadian-born people of color cannot find a good job. They do not have the appropriate education. Therefore, they do not expect to receive a well-paid job that requires higher education and work experience. Nevertheless, they have the right to expect a job that does not harm their health and family life.

Canadian-born people of color believe the reason for their unemployment or low employment to be race discrimination. Especially, it refers to people that live in Black Creek (Ruth 2009). This focus group also includes people that are immigrants. They emphasized that employers want to have profit from them. Some companies employ only immigrants that do not have documents and cannot complain about very low salary or not appropriate conditions of work (Ruth 2009). Another reason for their unemployment is supposed to be the inability for colored people to receive education and attend all courses they want to.

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Another focus group of South Asian immigrants gave similar answers. They name discrimination as the main reason for their misfortune in the labor market. They suggested that when an employer looks at a resume and sees a foreign name or hears an accent on the phone, he refuses to hire such people (Surgandha 2009). According to one of the group participants, some people even changed their names in pursuit of being invited to the interview (Surgandha 2009). Therefore, these people are desperate if they are ready to make such changes.

Another core reason for unemployment or poor employment is not Canadian education. Canada does not recognize the diplomas of many countries. Therefore, even if immigrants were doctors or teachers in the past, it means nothing in Canada. However, immigrants can get credit to pay for education. Nevertheless, some people claim that even after a year of studying they cannot find a job while being obliged to pay for the loan (Surgandha 2009). Probably, it is connected with the short period of studying. Among other reasons, reference is absent while applying for a job. Therefore, all these people cannot get a well-paid job due to race discrimination or lack of education.

THE MEANING OF WORK

All participants of the focus groups came to the interview because they experienced difficulties at the workplace. They were ready to work anywhere and receive any wage since they had no other choice. There are many differences between Canadian-born people of color and South Asian immigrants, which result from different attitudes to work.

Colored people of Canadian origin regard a job as the way of surviving and feeding a family. They have nothing against labor work, as they understand that without good education they cannot count on high-paid work. Nevertheless, they are struggling for the defense of their rights. Many work positions do not require education, and African Americans are hired for such positions. In addition, their salaries are very low. People are obliged to have two or three jobs at the same time (Ruth 2009). No time for family or children is left. Furthermore, food, taxes, rent, and childcare payments amount to almost the entire salary (Ruth 2009). That is why Canadian-born people of color complain about medicine and education due to their inability to find a job. They tolerate this, but these people cannot find a decent job that will provide a normal salary with which they will afford good food and healthcare to their families.

Immigrants in Canada are different. They came to this country to have better opportunities in life. They could find labor work in their countries. However, they wanted a better future for their children and themselves. For this reason, after graduating from universities, immigrants came to Canada and received the opportunity to work only in low-paid jobs. Immigrants want the same privileges as refugees (financial help, free education, shelter, etc.) (Surgandha 2009). Even if low positions become highly paid, it will not be enough for immigrants. They still have the American dream. They want their Asian education to be valid in Canada. Therefore, work for them means not only the way of surviving but the way of getting the desired.

Many immigrants have expired visas or no documents. They are obliged to find illegal jobs and be underpaid. Therefore, such illegal works are a good chance for them. Temping works are the worst ones for immigrants and people of color. They do not like this due to the absence of income, security, healthcare, and guarantees. Despite all these factors, people have to participate in such temporary projects even without any guarantees in pursuit of earning some money.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, despite facing the same problem, the attitude of participants from the two focus groups to the issue is very different. On the one hand, there are Canadian-born people of color that accept the situation that many of them cannot receive education and want at least to find a job with income, security, and guarantees. On the other hand, Asian immigrants do not want to do labor work. They want their Asian education to be recognized in Canada; furthermore, they want to be treated not as refugees, but as native citizens. While Canadian-born people of color suggest real ways to find a job by attending different programs and courses, South Asian immigrants only complain and demand. This seems to be the main difference between the interviewed focus groups.