Fundamental Rights for Household and Farm Workers
Household and farm workers are valued members of our communities and make essential contributions.
For those working in with temporary immigration status, restrictive measures —like closed work permits— violate their rights to liberty, security of person, equality, and access justice.
RHFW works to end that injustice. Let us clear a fair path together.
Our Mission
Our Work
Impact Litigation
RHFW’s End Migrant Worker Unfreedom constitutional class action aims to end policies that tie migrant workers to specific employers—and obtain compensation for the harms caused by these policies.
Advocacy
Through campaigns, submissions and meetings with elected representatives, RHFW amplifies the voices of household and farm workers to demand public policies that respect their dignity and human rights.
Research-Action
Bridging the gap between the academic and activist sectors, RHFW works on concrete, actionable research to inform its advocacy initiatives.
Education-Mobilization
Through trauma informed approaches, RHFW is dedicated to raising awareness and mobilizing for the rights of household and agricultural workers. We believe in the power of informed and engaged communities to create meaningful change.
Our Priority: The Migrant Worker Freedom Project
Ending Legal Servitude
Migrant Worker Freedom Impact Litigation
Authorized by the Quebec Superior Court in 2024, the historical legal action End Migrant Worker Unfreedom takes on the structural issues that produce migrant worker unfreedom and which restrain their ability to quit their employer, exercise their rights, negotiate better conditions and be protected under Canadian law. Learn more.
Active support to the Employment Insurance (EI) class action seeking fundamental rights respect and justice for SAWP workers in Canada, after many years of grass root organizing in Ontario by J4MW. Learn more.
Policy Alternative
The Labour Im·migration Justice for All movement
Facilitation of a Canadian consultative process aimed at developing a declaration of fundamental rights to guide the drafting of a proposal on labour migration to be presented to Parliament. We believe your voice is crucial, and we are committed to providing a safe, confidential, and trauma informed space for participants to share thoughts, critiques and experiences. We wish to acknowledge the systemic realities that have forced many to remain silent regarding migrant worker unfreedom by rendering this process accessible, and confidential for those who may be at risk of persecution or retribution. Learn more.
International Solidarity
The Migrant Worker Freedom Network
Consolidation of a strong transnational survivor-led network aimed at co-facilitating migrant worker freedom initiatives locally and globally: (national and international supply chains) impact litigation initiatives, transnational spotlight campaigns and anti-slavery labour (im)migration bill submissions to legislative bodies. We wish to acknowledge the systemic realities that have forced many to remain silent regarding migrant worker unfreedom by rendering this process accessible to all, and confidential whenever relevant for those who may be at risk of persecution or retribution. Learn more.
Reference Services
RHFW does not specialize in individualized legal advice and support services.
For resources, please consult our Reference Services page.
Land Acknowledgement
While RHFW works towards increased recognition of migrant household and farm workers’ rights in Quebec and the rest of Canada, we recognize that the work and life conditions we seek to improve take place on unceeded indigenous territory. We further wish to acknowledge that our headquarters are situated on the unceeded traditional territory of First peoples.
Tiohtiá:ke (Montréal) has long served as a place for gathering and exchanging for many First Nations, in particular the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), a founding nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) People. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community. We stand in support of indigenous efforts, for the protection of their land and for recognition of their rights.
DTMF | RHFW
Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers
info@dtmf-rhfw.org
514-379-1262