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A Jamaican farm worker who was injured on the job in Canada
A fact-finding mission has been appointed by Labour Minister Karl Samuda to investigate the working conditions of Jamaicans employed under the Canadian farm work programme.
A brief statement from the Labour Ministry says the six-member tripartite team will travel to Canada to observe operations.
The team will speak with the workers and provide a report to Mr. Samuda.
The ministry is asking farm workers, advocate groups and members of the public to report incidents of mistreatment, poor working conditions and other concerns to the Liaison Service via its toll-free line at 1-888-898-3951, or via email at jamliser@bellnet.ca.
Reports can also be made confidentially to the Canadian authorities' Integrity Services Branch online.
During a courtesy call on Mr. Samuda on Thursday, Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Emina Tudakovic, noted that the Canadian Government shares Jamaica's concerns about the safety and security of the farm workers.
Ms Tudakovic commended the minister's decision to establish the fact-finding mission.
The High Commissioner noted that Jamaican farm workers in Canada have maintained a solid reputation, and gave her Government's commitment to support tactical solutions identified by the fact-finding mission to improve conditions.
The announcement of the fact-finding mission comes days after Mr. Samuda said he had not received any evidence of Jamaican farm workers being mistreated or forced to work in deplorable conditions on farms in Canada.
The minister was heavily criticised by some of the farm workers and labour advocates after he rejected the allegations.
A media briefing that had been set for Thursday by the ministry to address issues pertaining to the overseas farm work programme was postponed.
No reason was given for the postponement and no new date has been set.
Modern-day slavery?
Following the initial complaints that led to the minister's remarks, more Jamaican workers have begun to speak about their experiences on farms in Canada.
One of the participants in the overseas farm work programme said he saw red flags from the outset.
"They put you on a plane and you don't know where you're going. When I reach Toronto, that's the time I know exactly where I'm going and then when I reach the location, I said 'God, why did you take me to hell?'," the worker recounted.
"The moment I pull the door and went into this place, this place is like a hut; it's made out of zinc, not insulated or anything," he added.
Tired and hungry after arriving at his destination late, the man said he was then told he had to report to work at 7 o'clock the next morning to cut frozen cabbage despite him not yet having winter gear.
The farm worker, who was injured on the job, described the situation as modern-day slavery.
The man said he was disrespected and verbally abused by his employer.
He claimed the workers were given contracts to sign but were intimidated by their employers "because they don't want you to even read the very contract that they gave you; you have to sign it right away".
Among other things, he said the contract drafted by the employers stipulated that they had to work seven days per week.
In addition, he claimed that injured workers were denied medical care.
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