|
IMMIGRATION LAW
There are many problems involving the application of
immigration law regarding the treatment of refugees. We would like to make
recommendations on two of these problems.
RECOMMENDATION
15
We are asking:
- that the Minister monitor implementation of the
Foreign Domestics Program for domestic workers;
- that across the country Man-power officials be
informed of minimum wage increases and that the wage rate initiated in the 1981
policy be honoured.
- that every employer be notified in writing that
domestic workers are entitled to three hours a week off and $20 a month for
study;
- that ISAP policy change to allow funding through
community-based projects for the counselling of foreign
domestics;
- that the Long-Term Illegal Immigrants Program be
extended so that domestic workers who have been here illegally for a minimum of
five years can come forward for adjustment of status.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL
SERVICES
Immigrants in general and immigrant and visible minority women
in particular have minimal access to quality health care and social services.
Because most private and public service institutions do not have
bilingual/bicultural staff, immigrants and visible minority women cannot access
the services. For example, a recent study of mainline social service
organizations in Metropolitan Toronto shows that 82% of respondents had no
recruitment policies related to ethnicity and that 72.2% referred "ethnic"
clients to "ethnic" agencies. However, the "ethnic" agencies, where they exist,
are so under- staffed and under funded that they do not even begin to make a
difference.
Many immigrants and visible minority women suffer great stress
as a result of overwork, economic difficulty, immigration, isolation and
racism. Most are treated by their general practitioner with Valium and never
receive specialized help. Hospitals often use cleaning staff as interpreters
for mental and other health assessments. There is a dire lack of
bilingual/bicultural health personnel and interpreters.
RECOMMENDATION
16
- We ask the government to work with its
provincial counterparts and educational institutions to ensure the training of
professional bilingual/ bicultural personnel in the health care
field.
- Funding be provided for the training of
interpreters for health care services and that stable funding also be provided
for ethnocultural community Mental health services to emphasize preventive
approaches in health and social services and also self-help support groups for
immigrant and visible minority women.
- To establish funding for culturally sensitive
health related material and the translation of such material.
- The Health Promotion Program, with a 1984-85
budget of $5,648,175 gives same many to community projects geared to women. We
are asking that policies be developed under this program to respond to the
unique situation of immigrant and visible minority women.
|