SECRETARIAT OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE

Transcription

1 Mexico s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) } SECRETARIAT OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE Under Secretariat of Employment and Labour Productivity March

2 Mexico s SAWP Mexico-Canada Partnership since 1974 Canada s Ag. Industry Mexico s workers Reliability Trade experience Horticulture Ornamental agriculture Apiary farms Animal husbandry Additional source of income New skills Communities additional economic development 2

3 Mexico s SAWP Total SAWP workers in 35 years = 192,874 15,351 10,529 5, ,007 3

4 2009 Statistics PARTICIPATION OF WORKERS BY PROVINCE (%) ONTARIO 52 % QUEBEC 20 % BC 18 % ALBERTA 5 % MANITOBA 2 % OTHER 3 % 4

5 BC participation 2004 Mexico welcomes British Columbia in SAWP BC employers 2780 workers 5

6 Program growth in BC 3,000 Participating workers 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,

7 What makes it work? Employer values Participating worker s Reliability Agricultural background On-the-job skills Mexican worker values Employment conditions Equality of treatment Work safety & housing conditions Acquire additional skills Mutual satisfaction = Worker s return 7

8 Mexico s Ministry of Labor mandate: Worker Selection Selection, screening and recruitment Is conducted at more than 150 locations Atnocost foremployersorworkers Over 150 Employment Centers across Mexico Assist interested workers in the program Provide funding to workers when needed in recruitment process Broad operational capacity & IT Infrastructure specifically for SAWP 8

9 Recruitment & preparation for departure Work permit & visa application filing Medical examination (health providers approved by Canada s health authorities) Support in workers travel preparation Worker orientation (Information sessions on what to expect from working in Canada) Support in worker departure and arrival (At no cost for the Employer) 9

10 SAWP workers are afforded same labor rights & obligations as Canadian workers. Under Federal& Provincial Laws& SAWP Contract Minimum SAWP wage Mandatory Deductions Social Security(CPP, EI) Income tax Employment Standards Act Work Safe Additional benefits in SAWP Private health insurance Private life insurance 10

11 Mexico s SAWP PARTICIPATING WORKERS PER STATUS 2009 SEASON % more named workers in 2009 than in NAMED WORKERS NOMINAL 1a. 1st TIME VEZ WORKERS SUBSECUENTES WORKERS (2nd Year and Up) NP 76 % 6 % 18 %

12 Workers Workers number of years in the Program 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 48% over 5 seasons 17 % over 10 seasons 3,000 2,000 4,852 3,141 4,708 2,650 1, TO 3 4 TO 5 6 TO 10 OVER 10 0 A 3 4 A 5 NUMERO 6 A 10 DE MAS AÑOSDE 10 Years in the program 12

13 Frequently Asked Questions How do workers become eligible for this program? Through its more than 150 offices, Mexico sministry of Labour recruits the workers from a pool of individuals who wish to apply to be selected as a seasonal agricultural worker. What skill level does a seasonal worker have? Initial working experience is proven before Mexico s Ministry of Labour, upon entering the Program. The majority have developed skills in planting and harvesting in both greenhouse and open field operations. Workers from Mexico also have experience in apiary farms and animal husbandry. In addition, the experience they accumulate during their initial stay is recognized. Why are Mexican workers interested in participating in the program? The Program offers an opportunity to supplement their household income and learn additional skills applicable to their production context in Mexico. 13

14 Frequently Asked Questions (Cont.) Who gets to decide if a worker returns to the same employer? A worker will return to the same farm when employer and worker coincide that the first time they partnered was satisfactory to both. At the end of every season, the employer may request that the worker come back the following year. At the same time, workers may agree to return based on whether they found that housing and working conditions were satisfactory. What type of health screening is provided for workers prior to travelling to Canada? To be able to engage in the Seasonal Agricultural Program all workers must go through a medical examination performed by a health provider approved by Canadian Government health Officials. 14