Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE):

 Policy Name: Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE: Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (A non-profit organization)

Brief Policy Overview: 

By the policy “Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP),” employers can bring Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) from other countries if Canadian and Permanent Resident workers are not available for that job. This policy was first established in 1960 with Jamaika, and later, Mexico and some other Caribbean countries were added. 

There are three fixed rules that the employer must meet. First, the workers must be from Mexico or the participant’s Caribbean countries. Second, the production work must be in specific commodity sectors. Third, all activities should be directly related to farm agricultural production. 

In the policy, the foreign governments have a significant role. Their responsibilities are to recruit the workers, ensure that they have the necessary documents, maintain the quality of the workers, and appoint representatives in Canada to work for them. 

Here, the Quality of workers means they have farming knowledge, are at least 18 years of age, and can satisfy Canadian Immigration laws and the laws of their home country. 

Description of Stakeholder Group:

Who they are:

One of the non-profit community organizations, “Migrant Workers Alliance for Change,” is working actively on this social policy. The organization helps migrant workers stand up against the worst employers and fix problems with the immigration policy. They bring together migrant workers in firms, factories, campuses, and communities and work with Indigenous, labour, climate, and faith allies. 

History:

This organization was established in 2008 as a Coalition of Migrant Workers. In 2020, it renamed itself the Migrant Rights Network-Ontario. The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a member and serves as the secretariat for the Migrant Rights Network and Migrant Rights Network – Ontario. 

How impacted by policy:

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is an organization that works to win worker and immigration justice for migrant workers, care workers, students and more. The organization also works to inform workers about their immigration and workers' rights. For example, if the permits expire, what can they do about an open work permit, what is the minimum wage, and where can they get financial assistance? 

Stakeholder Perspective / Arguments About Policy:

Argument 1:

The organization is working to unite and ensure Canada does the right thing. It grants permanent status to all – including people without papers and those who arrive in the future. 

Argument 2:

The organization supports the workers who hold a closed work permit (employer-specific) and who are at risk of experiencing abuse or are already experiencing abuse with the employer they currently have a contract. It supports the workers to prepare part of the application, and then they will refer to a partner organization to finalize the application at no cost. 

Argument 3

Ensuring workers have the best legal support when they speak up, Handbook Design: A comprehensive way to learn rights and track hours and wages, Translation: Making our handbook available in many languages. Distribution: Directly to migrant workers in farms and fish plants in rural communities across Canada; educate migrant workers to contribute to the survey because the federal government asked the Temporary Foreign Workers to share their opinions. 

Stakeholder Recommendation on the Policy (concise statement):

(Opening Statement for the debate)

Every year, temporary migrant workers in farms and fishery face injustice in tens of thousands of dollars in wages, which is stolen by bad bosses. They are trapped in a system where speaking up means risking homelessness, poverty, deportation, and a ban from returning. “Migrant Workers Alliance for Changes” is launching a Worker Rights Handbook and Video Series for migrants to know their rights and gather evidence of exploitation. 

End line:

Everybody deserves to work and stay with their family. Sadly, the Canadian government keeps migrant worker separated by denying their permanent resident status. “Migrant Workers Alliance for Change” made a petition to sign to change this system. 

Bibliography:

Canada, E. and S. D. (2023, March 21). Government of Canada. Hire a temporary worker through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - Overview - Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/agricultural/seasonal-agricultural.html

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. About. (2023a, February 7). https://migrantworkersalliance.org/about/