Plans on to improve services to farm workers

TORONTO:

When 108 Jamaican farm workers arrived recently in Toronto to work in Ontario, they did so under what Pearnel Charles Jr, minister of labour and social security, promised would be a year in which the government will enhance, protect, and improve the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme.

His statement was made in January while speaking at a send-off of 111 farm workers to Canada at an event at the Overseas Employment Centre in Kingston.

Althea Riley, acting chief liaison officer in Toronto, said the Jamaica Liaison Service is doing things differently during this time of transformation. For example, some liaison officers will now live in the same regions as the farms and workers and so can be easily reached.

Among the 27 recommendations from a fact-finding report by the “Independent Fact-Finding Team Appointed to Conduct an Investigation into the Conditions of Farm Workers Under the Canadian Season Agricultural Workers Programme” presented by Karl Samuda, then minister of labour and social security in 2023, is one about the number of farms to be covered, the distance between them and the number of liaison officers assigned to each farm, something that the team saw as a challenge. The report highlighted deficiencies in the liaison service, which it said can be overcome and that the commitment of the liaison officers is beyond question.

“In many instances, visits by an officer take place at a time when the workers are out on the farms, making them inaccessible. We do believe that a case has been made for additional liaison officers to adequately service the farms. While we have recommended the use of virtual meetings, this should not be seen as an alternative to face-to-face interaction,” said the report.

The report also recommends that as a requirement for the visits, “the liaison service should draw on the federal and provincial standards (which are sometimes at variance) and adopt a best-practice approach to determine the standard to be used when inspecting general living conditions”.

Another recommendation said customer service and communications skills at the Ministry of Labour need to be improved to reduce the levels of complaints from farm workers.

“We recommend that due consideration be given to the concerns expressed by the farm workers who are on extended stay to be given time-off to visit families back home in Jamaica, as well as to allow their spouses to visit,” noted a recommendation.

POSITIVE VIEW

The report found that there were genuine grounds for complaints and issues, but there was no evidence to support the assertion that the conditions are akin to “systemic slavery” as expressed in concerns of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. “Further, the findings clearly demonstrate that a large proportion of farm workers have a positive view of the programme.”

This was evident among the farm workers who arrived in Toronto on April 3 and were welcomed by Jamaica’s consul general, Kurt Davis; staff from the Jamaica Liaison Service; Claude Thompson, regional manager JN Money Services; Paula Fennell, manager JN Migrant Worker Program; and JNA staff.

Most were seasoned workers, but the contingent also included a few who were first-timers, like Valwalda Morrison, 27, of Montego Bay, who said he intends to do his utmost and follow the instructions of his trainers at Tregunno Fruit Farms Inc., located in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“Mi a expect say fi just do mi best and do weh mi trainer dem tell mi fi duh, so mi can do right and succeed right.”

Morrison said he would miss his family, and they, too, would miss him too, for the eights month that he will be away in Canada, but they know that it is a necessity to provide for them.

Roy Campbell, 66, is entering his 39th year in the SAWP and has worked for the same employer, Schooley Orchards Ltd., in Norfolk County over that time.

“I’m working with a good family. It’s a family farm and for all the years that I’ve worked with them I’ve never had any problems with my boss,” he said, noting also that whenever he calls the Jamaican Liaison Service, he gets someone.

He commended Riley and the other liaison service officers, noting that there are times when they are busy dealing with other workers and may not be available. However, most times, they are helping them with personal matters, not emergencies.

“Mi nuh have no problems wid dese people who mi work wid. My boss is excellent, Harold Schooley, and his family.”

DISCIPLINE – THAT MAKES IT WORK

Prince Espeut, 61, of St. Thomas has been working at Delhaven Orchards in Blenheim for 29 years, and is proud of the unity among the workers, noting that they have a boss who listens to them and makes their job seamless.

“We share a good relationship there and it helps us. It helped me to put my kids through school and I’m grateful for the outcome,” he said.

The contented father also spoke about his children: a daughter who is a police officer, a son being a soldier, and a son who works with him at Delhaven Orchards, and has been there for six years.

“To be honest, if my quality of work wasn’t up to a certain standard then I couldn’t have brought him there. That is to show you what I portray as a man in society to bring him here.”As for working alongside his son on the farms, Espeut said, “It makes me feel good too.”

Campbell chimed in that he brought up two sons to work in the SAWP; one has been doing so for 12 years, while his wife works in the United States.

“I train those kids before they start travel and tell them what I do on the farm, how tough it is because it’s not an easy job, but it’s discipline. If you don’t have discipline, you won’t go through. Discipline is the most important thing on the farm. Sometimes, it’s cold and you don’t want to go out there, that’s why I say discipline – that makes it work.”

He lauded the programme for supporting children who became doctors, lawyers, teachers, and nurses. “This programme is one of the most important programmes for Jamaica and other guys from the Caribbean, like from Trinidad, Barbados, and St. Vincent.”

Campbell said all that is required is good communication from everyone on the farm – from his co-workers to the boss, and the liaison officer – and “if we have that we don’t have any problem”.

The workers acknowledged knowing what to do if there are any injuries or concerns at their workplaces.

Campbell said the boss should be called if there are any emergencies or a report should be made to a supervisor immediately.

Describing his experience as wonderful, Derrick Williams, 53, of Clarendon, has been working in the programme for 22 years with the same employer, M. Putzer Hornby Nursery Ltd, in Hornby.

“It’s a great honour for me and my family. All that I have, it’s right here I achieve it so it’s a good feeling,” he said, noting that initially being away for eight months was difficult for his family, but now everything is fine.

Winston Davis, 45, who is from Kellits, Clarendon, and has been working at Truly Green Farms in Chatham for 10 years, said he is hardworking and dedicated to his job. He said the workplace atmosphere is congenial and he usually calls his wife and children at break times or when the workday ends to stay in touch and ease the feelings of missing their company.

The programme’s acting chief liaison officer in Toronto reported that as of Wednesday, 2773 workers will arrive in Toronto. This represents the programme’s final flight for this week.