Farmworkers from afar. Results from an international study of seasonal farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean working on Ontario farms

Transcription

1 Farmworkers Results from an international study of seasonal farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean working on Ontario farms

2 Acknowledgements is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1976 to provide professional, policy-relevant research on North-South issues and relations between industrialized and developing countries. The results of this research are made available to policy-makers, interested groups and the general public to help generate greater understanding and informed discussion of development questions. The Institute is independent, nonpartisan and cooperates with a wide range of Canadian, overseas, and international organizations working in related activities. NSI receives a core grant from the Canadian International Development Agency. For more information about the Institute consult our website at: This pamphlet has been produced with the help of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The author would like to acknowledge and express appreciation to the many people who were consulted on this pamphlet, including Rudyard Robinson, Kerry Preibisch, Ann Weston, Veena Verma, representatives of community groups El Sembrador and ENLACE, as well as officials from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS). Every effort has been made to ensure the information in the pamphlet is accurate and current, however, changes to the program and relevant regulations are made on an ongoing basis. L Institut Nord-Sud THE NORTH-SOUTH INSTITUTE, AUTHOR: HEATHER GIBB MANAGING EDITOR: LOIS ROSS PLAIN LANGUAGE EDITOR: DEBRA ISABEL HURON GRAPHIC DESIGN AND COVER DESIGN: MARCELO SAAVEDRA-VARGAS

3 Table of contents A study of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in Ontario What is CSAWP? How the program works Why CSAWP is important to Canadian farmers Why CSAWP is important to farmworkers What workers told us would make CSAWP better CSAWP workers rights in Ontario Wages and deductions Housing Farmworkers understanding of the program Farmworkers and the local, rural community Health and safety Actors involved in CSAWP Churches Health and safety groups Labour unions and workers support groups Social and language support groups Government agents

4 A study of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in Ontario In 2003, (NSI) did a major study of the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (CSAWP). Two main goals of that study were to find out what parts of the program worked well and what parts were not working well for both farmworkers and farm owners. Another goal was to suggest ways to improve living and working conditions for farmworkers. The researchers worked in Canada, Mexico and a number of Caribbean countries. In Canada, they studied the Canadian part of CSAWP. In Mexico and the Caribbean countries, they looked at the program from the point of view of the workers who came from those countries. The booklet you are reading is a summary of what the study learned about how the program operates in Ontario. It describes what workers said about their experiences working on Ontario farms and suggests ways to help make working and living conditions better for the workers. The booklet has been produced thanks to funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. As well, the Ontario Trillium Foundation has given the NSI funds to hold community meetings in three locations in southern Ontario in early Both executive summaries and full background reports for the entire NSI study on farmworkers are available on s website: As well, if you would like to read the detailed report on which this pamphlet is based please go to the NSI s website: progress/13.asp. 2

5 The research involved site visits and interviews in Ontario farm communities, as well as interviews and surveys with returned workers in Mexico and Caribbean countries. The following researchers produced these papers for the study: Jamaican Workers Participation in CSAWP and Development Consequences in the Workers Rural Home Communities Roy Russell, Agro-Socio Economic Research, Kingston, Jamaica. Canadian Migrant Agricultural Workers Program Research Project: The Caribbean Component Andrew Downes and Cyrilene Odle -Worrell, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies, Barbados. Mexican Farmworkers Participation in Canada s Seasonal Agricultural Labour Market and their Development Consequences in their Rural Home Communities Gustavo Verduzco and María Isabel Lozano, El Colegio de México, Mexico. The Canadian and United States Migrant Agricultural Workers Program: Parallels and Divergence between Two North American Seasonal Migrant Agricultural Labour Markets with respect to Best Practices David Griffith, East Carolina University, United States. Social Relations Practices between Seasonal Agricultural Workers, their Employers and the Residents of Rural Ontario Kerry Preibisch, University of Guelph, Canada. The Mexican and Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program: Regulatory and Policy Framework, Farm Industry Level Employment Practices, and the Future of the Program under Unionization Veena Verma, Cavalluzzo Hayes Shilton McIntyre & Cornish, Barristers & Solicitors, Canada. Hemispheric Integration and Trade Relations: Implications for CSAWP Ann Weston, Vice-President and Research Coordinator and Luigi Scarpa de Masellis,, Canada. 3

6 What is CSAWP? The Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (CSAWP) is a program run by the Government of Canada. It is a bilateral program, meaning that the governments of Canada, Mexico and some Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean have agreed on clear rules about how it will operate. The governments of Mexico and some Caribbean countries are known as the sending countries. Canada receives the workers that these countries provide. CSAWP Partners from Mexico and the Caribbean Community groups, churches and labour organizations in Ontario Government agents in Canada who represent the governments of Mexico and the Caribbean Ontario Government (labour law, health and safety laws, housing inspections, etc.) Canadian farmers (represented in Ontario by FARMS) CSAWP Memorandums of Understanding signed by the Canadian Government and the Governments of Mexico and some Caribbean countries. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) manages the program for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), which issues CSAWP workers work permits. 4

7 How the program works The governments of Mexico and some Caribbean countries have signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Canadian government. The federal department of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSDC) manages the program in Canada for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Farm owners must show HRSDC that they have first tried to hire Canadians to do the work. Then, HRSDC will approve job offers to farmworkers under CSAWP. CIC issues work permits for the farmworkers. In Ontario, FARMS administers the program. It is a non-profit body funded by the farm owners. It works with sending government agents, makes travel plans for farmworkers through CanAg Travel, and cooperates with Canadian government staff to ensure that work permits for farmworkers are processed. Representatives of the sending countries (known as government agents, i.e. consular officials) find workers through their own Ministries of Labour. The agents are a link between the Canadian government and their own governments, and they work closely with FARMS. They also do what they can to resolve labour problems that arise between farmworkers and farm owners in Canada. Their dual role as a worker and government representative can place them in conflict-of-interest. The provincial governments (of Ontario, Quebec, etc.) are responsible for provincial human rights standards, labour standards, and workplace safety laws. Many of these laws apply to farmworkers from outside Canada. Workers housing must conform to standards set in each province. The farm owners, government agents and workers sign an Employment Agreement, or contract, that clearly states the terms and conditions of employment. Each year, the governments of Canada, the sending countries, and the farm owners (represented in Ontario by FARMS) review how the program is working and what could be done to improve it. 5

8 Why CSAWP is important to Canadian farmers Agriculture is worth $90 billion a year to Canada s economy. Canada ranks 4 th in the world when it comes to exporting food or food products to other countries. In 2004, the province of Ontario alone exported more than: $7.4 billion of food or food products to the United States $51.4 million of food or food products to Mexico. Farm owners know they must compete in a global world. It is hard for small farm owners to compete in international markets where large agri-business companies have a lot of control. Looking at agriculture in Canada, we see that: 6 companies control the sale of food in Canada only a few companies produce nitrogen fertilizer, and a small number control the chemical and seed sectors. Trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement also mean that farmers in Ontario must compete with farmers in Mexico and the United States. All farm owners in Canada, big and small, are under pressure to keep costs down. Canadian farmers have always struggled to make sure they had enough workers to help plant and harvest their crops. This kind of work does not pay much. It can be hard, manual labour. It can also be dangerous. Over the years, the Canadian government has tried to help farmers get enough reliable workers. It has set up summer student programs and farm labour pools. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ontario farm owners wanted the federal government to allow workers from the Caribbean to come here for part of the year. 6

9 CSAWP was set up in That year, 264 Jamaican workers came to Canada for temporary jobs on farms. In 1974, the first Mexican workers arrived. Since then, other Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean have sent workers to Canada under the program. They are from: Trinidad and Tobago Barbados Grenada Antigua Dominica Saint Kits and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Monserrat. Today, about 18,000 farmworkers come to Canada each year under this program. Most of them work on farms and greenhouses in Ontario and Quebec. They help to produce mainly sod, tobacco, fruit and vegetables, and ginseng. 7

10 Why CSAWP is important to farmworkers The main reason workers come to Canada under CSAWP is that the work they do here pays more than jobs in Mexico and the Caribbean. Unemployment is high in those countries, particularly in rural areas. CSAWP allows farmworkers to enter Canada legally. They avoid the risks of illegal work. CSAWP workers want to improve life for themselves and their families. They spend as much as 8 months of the year away from home. This is not easy for them or their families. Some workers have been coming to Canada every year for more than 20 years. When they are in Canada, they do not feel a strong connection to the towns or cities near the farms. They feel isolated. Most Mexican farmworkers do not speak English. This makes it harder for them to talk to the farm owner and to Canadians in nearby towns and cities. Mexican workers said that doing farm work in Canada means they are able to: build their own house in Mexico add rooms for their family in their parents home have electricity, indoor running water and a bathroom with plumbing send their children to school longer. As result, the children of CSAWP workers have been able to get better jobs in Mexico. Both Mexican and Caribbean farmworkers said they send the money from Canada home to pay for food and housing. Some Caribbean farmworkers use their earnings from Canada to set up or expand a small business back home. 8

11 What workers told us would make CSAWP better The study found there may be ways for the farmworkers to use the experience they have in Canada to get better jobs at home. Farmworkers had these ideas: Workers could agree to pool their savings from work in Canada to gain more access to loans from banks in their home countries. Their own governments could provide free financial advice to farmworkers. Deductions for Employment Insurance (EI) in Canada could go into a Migrant Workers Fund that would offer loans to workers who wanted to start or expand a business back home. The sending governments could consider ways to support small business development and local jobs in rural communities. For example, farmworkers from Jamaica could attend Jamaican agricultural schools to become agricultural extension workers at home. Canadian farmers could help farmworkers understand more about modern farming methods. They could find ways to train farmworkers on subjects such as: the use of fertilizers and pesticides, farm machinery, irrigation, packaging, crop and livestock husbandry. This might be done by having workers do more than just one type of job on the farm. Many workers come to Canada with skills in mechanics or carpentry. These skills could be used and improved on Canadian farms. Another way to expand the benefits of CSAWP in the sending countries is to include more women workers. In 2004, FARMS reported that less than 2% of workers from Mexico and the Caribbean on Ontario farms were women. Studies show women in those countries are working more often in agriculture. If more women were to be part of CSAWP, the program would need to ensure their right to equal pay. As well, women workers would need to know they had the right to complain if there was sexual harassment on the job. The following pages look at topics such as basic rights, housing, and health and safety. 9

12 CSAWP workers rights in Ontario Basic facts the study found Agriculture in Ontario is covered by lower labour standards than other sectors. Agriculture workers do not have the right to belong to a union, but they can become part of an association or work group. Farmworkers are covered by the Ontario Human Rights Code while they are living in the province. Farm owners must make sure that farmworkers have private or public health insurance and that the workers are registered with the Workers Safety and Compensation Board in Ontario. Employers must provide free housing that has been inspected and meets local housing standards. Good practice Because CSAWP is set up and managed by the governments of Canada and the sending countries, there is less chance that workers will be exploited by labour contractors. CSAWP allows both farmworkers and farm owners to get what they need (labour and jobs) at lower costs. Farmworkers have contracts signed by the farm owner each year they come to Canada. The contracts state the rules for both workers and farm owners. Rules about transferring workers from one farm to another are spelled out in the contract. 10

13 CSAWP workers rights in Ontario Problems the study revealed Farmworkers who are named know that they will have a job next season. However, the survey of workers showed that workers are not likely to complain to the owners about work or housing conditions because they are afraid they might not be named to come back the next year. 23% of Mexican workers said they were moved to another farm without first getting their consent and the agreement of the government agent and HRSDC. This is against the contract rules. Contracts say that a farm owner may send a farm worker home for refusing to work, or any other sufficient reason, after consulting with the government agent. The farm worker cannot appeal this. Making change happen In June 2006, the government of Ontario will change the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean will then be covered under this law. Workers and employers need to know what these new rights are, and how to use the appeal process. Government agents from sending countries are in conflict-of-interest when there is a dispute between a farm worker and a farm owner. The agent s job is to get as many jobs as possible for that country s workers in Canada. Agents do not like workers to cause problems because farm owners may decide to hire workers from another country. For this reason, an independent body should be set up to represent farmworkers when there is a dispute. 11

14 Wages and deductions Basic facts the study found The employment agreements for CSAWP say that farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean are to be paid similar wages to those paid to Canadian workers doing the same job. The NSI study in 2003 found that sometimes the rates paid to farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean were lower than the wages paid to Canadian workers. Farmworkers must pay into the Employment Insurance (EI) program. They cannot claim regular EI benefits, but they can claim parental and maternity benefits, as well as sickness benefits. Farmworkers must pay income tax and also pay into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). They may claim pension and disability benefits under CPP. Farmworkers have to pay up to $450 each year for their flights to Canada and for work permit fees. These costs are deducted from the money they earn in Canada. Caribbean workers pay administration fees and they must pay into a fund that forces them to save money each season. Good practice In 2003, HRSDC and Statistics Canada did a survey of wages paid to farmworkers across Canada. Based on the survey results, new wage rates were set for each province and for different kinds of farm products (tobacco, potatoes, etc). This makes the wage rates clear to everyone. FARMS has posted the new wage rates for Ontario farmworkers on its website ( Some employers in some sectors give workers overtime pay and bonuses. 12

15 Wages and deductions Problems the study revealed Many farmworkers did not know they could apply, or how to apply for: maternity or parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program pension benefits under the Canada Pension Plan workers compensation benefits for an injury or illness that happens on-the-job. Mexican farmworkers need more Spanish-speakers (interpreters) who can explain these programs to them. Many of the farmworkers are not happy that they have to pay into Employment Insurance and cannot make full claims for benefits. Making change happen Some farmworkers suggested their EI payments could go into a fund from which they could benefit, not to the government of Canada. For example, the fund could provide loans to farmworkers so they could start or expand a small business in their home country. Workers should have an independent representative (acceptable to everyone involved) when there is a dispute about wages. Wages for farmworkers should be based on skills and experience. Workers who return year-after-year could be paid a higher wage because they know the job so well. Community groups could help farmworkers learn more about how CPP and EI work. 13

16 Housing Basic facts the study found Employment agreements with farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean state that housing must be: provided at no cost to workers approved by the sending government s agent and Ontario housing inspectors before the workers arrive. Farmworkers in the survey said that most housing was acceptable, but there were some problems with too many people sharing a house and a lack of indoor plumbing. Good practice Some farm owners provide workers with their own bedrooms. DuraKit InstantHouses are used on some farms. They have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small dining room. Some farm owners provide satellite television in Spanish, air conditioning and furniture of good quality. Some farmers provide a place where workers can gather for social or sports events. One farm owner had a building where workers could meet and learn English, if they wished to do so. 14

17 Housing Problems the study revealed Many of the places where farmworkers stay did not have indoor bathrooms. Housing inspections by the Ministry of Health are supposed to happen before workers arrive. This did not always occur. The Ontario guidelines for housing for farmworkers dates back to Even when housing inspectors said that housing passed the inspection, the conditions were sometimes not acceptable. The main housing problems are: too many people in a small space lack of privacy fridges not big enough closets too small. Making change happen Fewer workers should be housed in smaller units. Workers should have their own room to sleep in. Only three or four workers should share the same fridge. A social space should be set up away from the place where workers eat and sleep. For health reasons, all drinking and washing water, and all toilets, should be indoors (not outside in the yard). Housing inspections should happen more often and the housing guidelines set by the province of Ontario need to be updated. 15

18 Farmworkers understanding of the program Basic facts the study found All workers are supposed to be given an orientation by their government officials before they begin work on a Canadian farm. Employers are supposed to explain and display their farm rules. Our survey found that many workers do not understand: Canada s immigration laws Canadian and Ontario laws that apply to them the Ontario Human Rights Code the rules that apply to CSAWP. Good practice Some farm owners provide clear rules about living on the farm. They respect workers rights and give them freedom to leave the farm when they are not working. Some farm owners provide a car or truck that farmworkers can use. Others buy new or used bicycles for workers. When workers are given bicycles or cars, they should also receive training on Canadian bicycle and road safety rules. Some community groups provide bicycles and training on how to ride a bicycle safely. Some farm owners transport their workers to church or social events set up by groups in nearby towns and cities. Some community groups invite farmworkers to information meetings so they can learn about their rights in Canada. Some community groups act on behalf of farmworkers who are having problems or conflict with a farm owner. 16

19 Farmworkers understanding of the program Problems the study revealed Some workers said they were afraid to complain when they thought the rules were not being followed. They did not complain because they feared being sent home, losing pay or being transferred. Not all farm owners gave out or displayed the farm rules (even though they are supposed to do this). Often, the rules were only in English (not in Spanish, for Mexican workers). 25% of Mexican workers surveyed said they experienced verbal abuse, lack of response to health problems, and too much work. Only a small number of Caribbean workers said they were treated this way. Farmworkers in the survey said they would like their working conditions to be inspected more often. Farmworkers freedom to leave the farm while working in Canada depends on the goodwill of the farm owner. Some farm owners have very strict rules that prevent farmworkers from going to nearby towns or cities. Other farm owners are more open and relaxed about this. Making change happen Farm owners should agree on some basic rules that apply to all farms that employ farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean. The rules should be available in both English and Spanish. Government agents from the sending countries should inspect farms often. Farm owners should promote workers understanding of human rights and employment laws in Ontario and Canada. If the laws apply to farmworkers, they have a right to know how they apply. Communities hosting temporary farmworkers also need to understand the immigration, employment rules and labour rights that apply to the farmworkers, so they can deal with problems that come up. 17

20 Farmworkers and the local, rural community Basic facts the study found Farmworkers surveyed in 2003 said they feel that most people in nearby towns have good feelings about them. They also said that social meetings with town people hardly ever occur, even though some farmworkers have been coming to Ontario farms for many years. Most contact between farmworkers and local communities is for business reasons. One study showed that farmworkers spend $82 million in rural towns in Ontario each year. Local banks and credit unions process money orders for farmworkers. Mexican workers send an average of $4,835 per season back to Mexico. The average cost per money order is $ On average, each worker spends about $1,500 in nearby towns and cities on meals, gifts, clothing, shoes, toys, etc. Good practice More community and church groups are setting up programs to support farmworkers. They offer sporting events, social meetings, and information nights. Some are new. Others have been doing this for awhile. Some examples are: the Niagara Regional Public Health Department has a Health Bus that offers health and dental service to farmworkers living near Virgil in Leamington, a volunteer paging system has been set up so that Mexican workers needing urgent health care can be linked with a Spanish translator community groups have bicycle safety programs for farmworkers. They also promote greater awareness of cycling among local drivers. Some local stores have learned what appeals to farmworkers and are trying to meet their needs by selling special foods and drinks. Some banks have set up new ways of doing business that make it easy for farmworkers to buy money orders. Some banks have reduced the fees they charge for money transfers to Mexico and the Caribbean. 18

21 Farmworkers and the local, rural community Problems the study revealed Farmworkers may stay in Canada for as long as 8 months. In the survey, they said they felt isolated from life in local communities. The reasons for this include: time (farmworkers work long hours) language (Mexican workers may not speak English) location (no bus route between farms and nearby towns). Community, labour and church groups that offer support to farmworkers lack regular funding and training to do the work they would like to do. They seem to lack a formal role as a stakeholder in the CSAWP, even though the work they do is very important to the program s success. Making change happen Community committees could be set up to welcome farmworkers and plan social events. Community groups could partner with farm owners to set up sports events (such as baseball or soccer games). Community groups could help Mexican workers with pensions and provide English conversation. Community groups could help workers learn about local stores that sell special food and drinks that appeal to them. Farmworkers would gain if community groups worked together and could coordinate their efforts. Church, community and labour groups need to be able to network so they can share information and learn from each other. 19

22 Health and safety Basic facts the study found Working on a farm can be dangerous. Farmworkers may be exposed to machines, pesticides, and other farm chemicals. They may be injured or become sick from working on a farm. Some workers have been killed in farm accidents. Working long hours and not having enough rest and sleep are other hazards that affect farmworkers safety and their general health. The health and safety problems faced by farmworkers are also tied to food safety for consumers. If farmworkers are not trained to handle chemicals safely, the food they help to produce may harm the people who eat that food. Farm machinery More than 50% of Caribbean farmworkers and about 33% of Mexicans said they used tractors, ploughs and harvesters. Not all received training. More than 50% of the Jamaican workers surveyed said they were concerned about safety. Pesticides and other chemicals Ontario government regulations say that all workers who handle certain pesticides (Schedule 2 or 5 pesticides) must have formal training before they can use them. This includes temporary farmworkers from Mexico and the Caribbean. Workers exposed to pesticides must wear protective clothing. The government also recommends that farmworkers who are exposed to organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides have regular blood tests which are covered by Ontario health insurance. 20

23 Health and safety Injury and illness 33% of farmworkers from St. Lucia, Grenada and Mexico said they had suffered injury or illness on the job. Back strain and ligament injuries were the most common. Workers often linked their sickness to working conditions such as sudden temperature changes in a greenhouse or a tobacco oven. Skin disease, asthma, allergies and flu were mentioned in the survey. Hours of work and rest Agriculture workers are covered by some parts of the Ontario Employment Standards Act. They are not covered by the part of the Act that deals with hours of work. Both the Mexican and Caribbean Employment Agreements state that the average minimum work week is 40 hours. The Mexican Agreement says that: A normal working day must not be more than 8 hours BUT hours of work may be increased if necessary. After 6 days of steady work, the worker must have one day of rest BUT this day may be taken later, if both the worker and farm owner agree. Mexican workers said they worked 10 hours a day and, on average, 7 days a week. Farmworkers from Jamaica said they work: 9.5 hours a day on average 6.7 days per week 63.7 hours a week on average. More than 90% of those surveyed from Barbados said they worked 7 days a week. 21

24 Health and safety Problems the study revealed Farm machinery Workers often did not complain to the farm owner about safety concerns because they were afraid to speak up. When they did report a problem, they did not feel that the farm owner acted to solve it. Pesticides and other chemicals 88% of the Jamaicans surveyed said they use chemicals or machinery in their work. Workers from Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico said they have used or been exposed to Gramoxone (a Schedule 2 pesticide). 23% of Jamaican workers said they received training. Most of the training was informal. 50% of Mexicans surveyed said they got some kind of training (it mostly involved getting instructions on how to do the work ): 15% said they were told how to use chemicals safely 37% were asked to apply agrochemicals 34% said they had to go into a field that had just been sprayed Only 10% said they wore special clothing and a mask Mexican workers said they were exposed to carbamate pesticides. 22

25 Health and safety Injury and illness Between 25 and 50% of farmworkers said they worked even when they were injured or sick. They did so because they did not want to lose wages. Some workers said the farm owner did not allow them to report an injury or sickness. Most workers said they had received medical care. Many Mexican workers said that when they went home, they had feelings of stress, headaches, high blood pressure, and back and knee problems. Workers said their health problems stemmed from their time in Canada. Mexican health insurance did not cover their health problems. They were forced to pay for any treatment they needed. Hours of work and rest Although they worked long hours and did not get enough rest, farmworkers also said they did not complain. They were willing to be tired so they could earn more money. 23

26 Health and safety Making change happen Machinery All farmworkers who use farm machinery should receive training. Training should be offered in Spanish for Mexican workers. When Ontario s new Occupational Health and Safety Act becomes law in June 2006, workers will have the right to say NO to unsafe work. Workers will need to know about their new rights and be confident in using them without penalty. Workers contracts should say that they can refuse unsafe work as defined in the new law. Community, church and union groups could provide workers with information about their new rights. Pesticides and other chemicals All farmworkers need training, in Spanish as well as English, on how to use pesticides and other chemicals. They need more information on what the dangers are. On-the-job supervision is needed as well as regular inspection of farms to make sure safety regulations are being followed. FARMS has produced a series of audio CDs called Safety Talks for the Agricultural Sector. These CDs and safety sheets are in English and Spanish. This is a good starting point. Additional resources, in English and Spanish, are available from other organizations, for example, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute. All information about pesticides and chemicals for farmworkers in CSAWP must be in Spanish and English. 24

27 Health and safety Injury and illness When Ontario s new Occupational Health and Safety Act becomes law in June 2006, workers will have the right to say NO to unsafe work. This will protect farmworkers from having to do things (such as heavy lifting) that they believe are unsafe. Community groups could help workers be aware of their new rights in Hours of work and rest Farmworkers come to Canada to earn money. Farm owners should provide at least 40 hours of work per week, and one day of rest per week. Rest days should be on weekends so that workers may have social time with other workers, and with the community around them. 25

28 Actors involved in CSAWP Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), through its network of Human Resource Centres, manages CSAWP on behalf of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. shtml&hs=hxe; and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issues the work permit after HRSDC approves the job offer. The Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) is a non-profit organization funded by farm owners in Ontario. It administers CSAWP in Ontario. CanAg Travel Services Ltd. is the travel agent that books agricultural workers flights. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. (farming operations come under the Occupational Health and Safety Act); (pesticide certification and training requirements). Community partners (this is not a complete list; it is based on information available at the time of study). Churches Saint Vincent de Paul, Niagara-on-the-Lake, offers Spanishlanguage masses. The Caribbean Workers Outreach Program in Niagara (CWOP-N) is an ecumenical organization that offers pastoral care, worship and social events. The Vineland Christian Reform Church and Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church host migrant outreach events, including 26

29 barbeques and soccer matches for both Mexican and Caribbean workers. El Sembrador offers spiritual and social support to workers in the Bradford, Holland Marsh and Keswick areas. St. Michael s Catholic Church and other parishes in the Leamington area offer mass in Spanish as well as ESL classes for workers. Health and safety groups Niagara Community Policing, Niagara-on-the-Lake, has targeted bicycle safety, including hosting an annual bicycle rodeo and barbeque for workers and the broader community. The Regional Niagara Public Health Department s Health Bus mobile health unit offers preventive health care, health and dental services to migrant workers living near Virgil. The South Essex Community Centre s Migrant Worker Coalition has focused on safety awareness surrounding bicycles, to increase migrant worker access to services and to create stronger links between the migrant worker population and the greater community. Labour unions and workers support groups United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada operates Migrant Worker Support Centres/ Centro de Ayuda al Trabajador Migratorio in Leamington, Simcoe, Bradford and Virgil, and one in St.-Rémi, Quebec. The centres offer outreach services including information on wages and deductions, ESL classes and translation services when accessing health care or using prescriptions. Global Justice Care Van Project is a coalition of community and labour groups (Canadian Labour Congress, UFCW Canada, Canadian office of the United Steel Workers of America and the Canadian Auto Workers). Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW) is a non-profit collective based in Toronto that promotes the rights of seasonal migrant agricultural workers. 27

30 Social and language support groups The Latin Immigrant Niagara Community Association, St. Catharines, organizes social events for Mexican workers. Frontier College volunteers offer language classes to seasonal farmworkers in the evening. They also help to improve communication between farmworkers and farm owners, and between workers and the broader community. ENLACE (Community Link) Inc., helps Spanish-speaking farmworkers with translation, social events and a newsletter, El Surco. Community of Agricultural Foreign Workers and Friends of Exeter (CAFFE), offers an alternative social space for migrant workers, facilitates technology transfer through workshops, assists with English language and promotes integration of the migrant and resident communities. Temporary farmworkers are represented by government agents from the sending countries. They are diplomatic staff based at their country s consular office in Toronto. The Government of Mexico has recently opened an office in Leamington, to be closer to workers. Government agents Barbados: (416) Jamaica (416) (416) Toll Free: (for use only by Jamaican workers) Eastern Caribbean (416) (for use only by Eastern Caribbean workers) Trinidad and Tobago (905) Mexico (416) (Toronto) (519) , 1462, 1463 (Leamington) Emergency (416) Toll Free: (for use only by Mexican workers) 28