One of the structural factors that prohibit employment success for newcomers is the rise of precarious employment (Wilson, Sakamoto, & Chin, 2017). The concept of precarious employment relates to people whose standard (e.g., full-time) or non-standard employment (e.g., part-time) is low paid and has no medical benefits or a pension plan (Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, 2012-21).

Examples:

• Having multiple jobs with low wages
• Having great risk of injury and ill health
• Working part-time and temporarily, on term or contract
• Working full-time for low wages, with minimal or no benefits, such as no pension plan
• Being solo self-employed with no employees

We address precarious employment and support the standard employment relationship, which is characterized by full-time, secure employment, having access to good wages and benefits (Law Commission of Ontario, 2020).

References:

Law Commission of Ontario. (2020). Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work. https://www.lco-cdo.org/en/our-current-projects/vulnerable-workers-and-precarious-work/

Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. (2012-21). Chapter 4: Vulnerable workers in precarious jobs. https://www.ontario.ca/document/changing-workplaces-review-final-report/chapter-4-vulnerable-workers-precarious-jobs

Wilson, R. M., Sakamoto, I., & Chin, M. D. (2017). The labour market and immigrants. In M. C. Yan, & U. Anucha (Eds.), Working with immigrants and refugees (pp. 111-132). Oxford University Press.