Caring About Care Workers Report Launch & Community Forum

Sociology professor Dr. Naomi Lightman and Social Planning Toronto invite you to a community forum and the launch of their new report, Caring about Care Workers: Centring Immigrant Women Personal Support Workers in Toronto’s Home Care Sector.

This report takes an in-depth look at the working conditions of immigrant women employed as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Toronto’s home care sector. It examines pathways for building collective worker power and advancing fairness and justice for home care PSWs.

Drawing on interviews with 25 immigrant women PSWs, the research amplifies their experiences, perspectives, and calls to action, highlighting the urgent need for transformational change in Ontario’s home care system. The project was additionally informed by interviews with individuals with labour and community organizing and policy experience regarding personal support work and home care in Ontario.

The researchers put forward detailed recommendations for the Ontario and federal governments, home care service provider organizations, unions, and the community sector, aimed at ensuring fair and decent compensation and working conditions for home care PSWs. A goal of the report is to provide clear direction towards transforming the provincial home care system in the interests of Ontarians and home care PSWs, and building the collective power of home care PSWs to support much-needed change.

Speakers:
Naomi Lightman, Toronto Metropolitan University
Beth Wilson, Social Planning Toronto
Connie Ndlovu, President of CUPE 7797 and Home Care PSW
Ella Tan, Employment and Family Support Worker, North York Community House