Justice for Migrant Workers calls for farm workers' demands to be met

 

Chris Ramsaroop, the organiser of Justice for Migrant Workers in Canada, has said it is time for the demands of farm workers to be implemented rather than another fact-finding mission.

 

His comments follow Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr's decision to order an investigation into new reports of Jamaican farm workers living in sub-par conditions in Ontario, Canada.

 

Mr. Ramsaroop said the workers for decades have been calling for more privileges and better protection in their role as farm workers.

 

He explained that these demands include the option to change farms as well as upgrade their work permit status.  

 

"They do not want to be on a tied work permit. They want the ability to transfer so they're not facing these type of conditions. Farm workers, like many other communities, have been saying that they should have permanent status on arrival. But prior to the arrival of Jamaican workers in 1966 to Canada, the people from Poland, from the Netherlands came to Canada and were able to live here as equals. So I think it is time that we basically listen to the voices of the farm workers from Jamaica." 

 

Mr. Ramsaroop insisted there is no need for another fact-finding team, adding: "We do not need any more research or studies. It's pretty clear what the issues are and it's time for action."

 

He was speaking Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

 

It was reported last week that workers on a farm in Ontario withdrew their service to protest against what they described as adverse living conditions.

 

The workers said they decided to protest after their living quarters were flooded with waste water.

 

The group also reported that this was just one example of the inhumane conditions under which they are being made to work.

 

The Jamaicans said the farm was not among those visited by the fact finding team sent to Canada last year to investigate claims that Jamaican farm workers were working under inhumane conditions.

 

Mr. Ramsaroop has also raised concern about the loyalty of the liaison officers to the protection of workers' rights versus the protection of the reputation of the farm work programme, suggesting they were more concerned with the latter. 

 

In addition, he questioned the capacity of the liaison officers to adequately assist with worker-rights related challenges. 

 

"The liaison officers and the government officials don't have the expertise around employment standards issues, pesticides, chemicals, workers' compensation. That's what organizations like Justice for Migrant Workers and the litany of groups that are organised across Canada come into play," he argued. 

 

As such, he said it is important that the Jamaican government and liaison officers "do not dissuade workers from exerting their rights" and connecting with advocacy groups that lobby for changes.