Jamaica braces for fallout as Canada set to cut number of temporary foreign workers

 

There could be a fallout in the overseas farm work programme with the Canadian government announcing that it is reducing by tens of thousands, the number of temporary foreign workers.

 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this is necessary as the government struggles to bring down the number of temporary residents.

 

Mr. Trudeau says the country no longer needs as many temporary foreign workers.

 

"We need Canadian businesses to invest in training and technology and not increasing their reliance on low-cost foreign labour. It's not fair to Canadians struggling to find a good job, and it's not fair to those temporary foreign workers, some of whom are being mistreated and exploited," he announced. 

 

As such, he said his government will be "tightening the rules and restricting eligibility to reduce the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers in Canada, with exceptions in certain industries like healthcare, construction and food security". 

 

The temporary foreign worker programme, meant to fill labour shortages, has grown dramatically and has come under fire for suppressing wages and leaving workers vulnerable to abuse, in part because of permits that tie workers to employers.

 

A UN special rapporteur called it a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.

 

Mr. Trudeau said his cabinet is also considering reductions to permanent resident streams.

 

"These are ongoing conversations that we're having that we're taking extremely seriously. This fall, we'll be presenting for the first time an immigration levels plan that doesn't just talk about permanent residence, but also talks about temporary residence, whether it's foreign workers or others."

 

"Over the next 90 days, we'll be looking at the higher-wage streams of temporary workers, and we'll be looking at unemployment rates and opportunities to make further adjustments over the course of this fall as we come forward with comprehensive level plans that will respond to the reality that Canada's facing now and in years and decades to come," added the Canadian prime minister. 

 

Mr. Trudeau has been lagging in polls ahead of an election expected next year, as a growing share of Canadians say Canada is bringing in too many immigrants.

 

Any reduction in the foreign worker programme would impact the thousands of Jamaicans who over the years have participated in the programme. 

 

Jamaica's Ministry of Labour says it has taken note of the announcement and will be taking steps to safeguard the almost 9,000 workers that go to Canada on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme.  

 

Colette Roberts Risden, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, said discussions will be held with stakeholders in Canada on the issue. 

 

"We believe that the demand for agricultural workers is still strong in Canada, and the Prime Minister did allude in a statement that there will be a carvout for food security sectors. So as the coming days and weeks unfold, when we hear more in relation to what the Prime Minister has said, we'll be in a better position to stay whether or not it is going to negatively impact the programme. What I can say though is that I have my task cut out for me," she admitted. 

 

The ministry last week announced that Mrs. Roberts Risden has accepted a two-year assignment to provide strategic leadership and oversight for Jamaica's Overseas Employment Programmes in Canada and the United States.

 

Her two-year assignment will begin early next month.