Probe ordered into conditions being faced by Jamaican farm workers in Ontario

 

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. said he has ordered an immediate investigation into reports of some Jamaican farm workers living in sub-par conditions in Canada.

 

Mr. Charles said the Ministry is closely monitoring reports out of Ontario, Canada from a cohort of Jamaican farm workers who have indicated that they are being subjected to poor working and living conditions.

 

According to Mr. Charles, the latest report from the workers suggests "they have faced adverse living conditions", which led to them withdrawing their service in protest on Thursday, June 1. 

 

"Since then, I have ordered an immediate investigation into the living conditions and the working environment for the farm workers, particularly from this location. We have directed also the liaison officers to visit the location, to engage the workers and to provide a fulsome and comprehensive report on the conditions of the farm workers," the minister said. 

 

Mr. Charles, who was recently installed as Labour Minister following a Cabinet reshuffle, said he is determined to ensure Jamaicans are not mistreated under the farm work programme. 

 

"Be assured that I and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security remain committed to ensuring that every Jamaican farm worker is provided with the best working and living conditions and we will remain unrelenting in our effort to safeguard the safety and the health of our farm workers," he vowed, adding that the minister will work with its partners to ensure the workers' treatment is in keeping with global standards.

 

The workers reportedly withdrew their services Thursday to protest against what they described as adverse living conditions 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 say 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.