Who are the Migrant Farm Workers in Canada?
Migrant farm workers work in Canada during the prime agricultural season to help plant, maintain, harvest or process produce. Also known as seasonal agricultural workers, migrant farm labourers, temporary workers, or guest workers, migrant farm workers may be here for up to eight months a year working up to seven days a week. Many return year after year, in some cases for over 20 years. In 2003, Canada welcomed over 18,000 migrant farm workers, with 94% hosted by Ontario. Currently workers come from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Montserrat and Mexico. These workers generally work and live on one farm throughout their stay. The majority of the workers are male, and all of them have wives or dependent families in their home countries who do not travel here with them but who depend on the money they send home from Canada. >> Click here to view the complete book in PDF format.
