Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program

by Sergio Pochon, Executive Officer, CAMA/OSSTF/FEESO, District 24, Waterloo

Addressing labour shortages in agriculture

The issue of labour shortages in Canada’s agricultural sector became apparent in the mid-1960s, as farms required workers to plant and harvest crops at the start of each season. To address this challenge, the Canadian government recognized the need for a structured program to supply agricultural labourers.

In 1966, Ontario implemented the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP). Initially established as a collaboration between Canada and Jamaica, the program has since expanded to include several other Caribbean nations, as well as Mexico. Today, approximately 18,000 migrant workers arrive in Canada each year, with the majority working in Ontario.

Challenges and concerns

Nearly six decades have passed since the program’s inception. While SAWP has provided foreign agricultural workers with stable employment and an income they might not be able to earn in their home countries, it has also faced significant criticism for leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation.

One of the primary concerns is the closed work permit system, which prevents workers from choosing their employers. This lack of mobility limits their ability to leave abusive or exploitative workplaces. Many workers also face language barriers, restricted access to healthcare, and fear of retaliation if they report poor working conditions. Those who complain risk being blacklisted, preventing them from returning to Canada for future seasons.

Both federal and provincial governments have acknowledged these challenges and have made commitments to improving the living and working conditions of migrant agricultural workers. However, substantial progress remains to be made. A particularly concerning issue is that some workers, even after spending 30 years working seasonally in Canada, remain classified as temporary workers and are not eligible for permanent residency.

Personal perspective and advocacy

Three decades ago, I had the opportunity to meet agricultural workers from Mexico and learn first-hand about their experiences with SAWP and as a Latine immigrant to Canada myself, I was excited to engage in learning and support for migrant workers. I was shocked to hear about their harsh working conditions, which included gruelling seven-day workweeks, shifts lasting up to 15 hours without overtime pay, and cramped living quarters, sometimes shared with up to 20 workers. Many of these workers lacked access to essential services, including adequate healthcare.

During that time, I would visit workers on Sunday afternoons, offering transportation to church, grocery stores, and local tourist sites. In the 1990s, migrant rights activists began advocating for better treatment of these workers. Today, solidarity groups and organizations continue to support them in various ways to improve their dignity and quality of life during their stay in Canada.
A special UN report has condemned Cana-da’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, describing it as a form of “modern slavery” (Obokata). Additionally, a recent report by Amnesty International highlights that the program “enables the abuse of migrant workers” (Amnesty International).

While the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program has provided economic opportunities for foreign labourers, its flaws continue to raise serious ethical concerns. Canada must take decisive action to ensure fair treatment, better protections, and pathways to permanent residency for the workers who play a crucial role in the country’s agricultural industry.

The International Agricultural Worker (IAW) program

In 2017, I discovered a new program at the Grand River Community Health Centre (GRCHC) in Brantford, which was seeking Spanish-speaking interpreters to assist agricultural workers, the majority of whom were from Mexico. The IAW Program is a collaborative initiative led by staff from Grand River Community Health Centre (GRCHC), Norfolk Family Health Team (NFHT), and Haldimand Family Health Team (HFHT). Currently, we serve over 6,000 agricultural workers who come to support farming operations in Brantford, Haldimand, and Norfolk. Recognizing the unique challenges these workers face, we provide a wide range of health services, including:

• Multilingual interpretation at all clinics
• Evening clinics to accommodate work schedules
• On-farm mobile clinics via fully equipped medical vans

Thanks to GRCHC’s recent acquisition of a second medical van, we’ve expanded our reach, visiting more farms and ensuring greater accessibility to healthcare for agricultural workers.

Our mission is to break down barriers to healthcare by meeting workers where they are delivering quality, compassionate, and equitable services to support their well-being.

I began my involvement as an interpreter for a Friday medical clinic in Sears at the Lynden Mall in Brantford.

At the beginning, our team consisted of six interpreters, one administrator, and a physician. We actively promoted the clinic in food courts and grocery stores, reaching out to all workers, including those from the Caribbean. The first clinic was held in the Sears workers’ lunchroom.

During the second season, the closure of Sears stores across the country forced us to relocate from the Lynden Mall and set up a portable clinic in the Canadian Tire parking lot. As demand for services grew, we opened a second clinic in Simcoe, allowing us to better meet the needs of the workers. With more doctors joining the team, we were able to provide quality healthcare in both locations. The number of patients increased, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring access to essential medical services for these workers. It was an act of solidarity to provide these vital services to the workers who in turn are providing vital work in the Canadian agricultural sector.

The role of IAW during the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our solidarity with and commitment to supporting migrant workers never wavered. On the contrary, we played a key role in supporting vaccination clinics, seeing hundreds of migrant workers every day. Our team of nurses, doctors, and interpreters provided medical services to infected workers, whether they were isolated on farms or quarantined in hotels in the Simcoe area.

Expanding services and community engagement

In the first years of the program, we served workers from May to late October. Today, we are proud to offer year-round medical services. Recognizing that workers spend extended periods on farms, the IAW Program has also initiated social events to foster community engagement.

Each year, GRCHC organizes the International Agricultural Worker Health Fair and the Black and Caribbean Health Fair, bringing together dozens of community organizations and advocacy groups to promote their services and to work in solidarity for the wellness of these communities. At these events, we provide meals for nearly 500 attendees, as well as raffles and entertainment.

During the summer, we also sponsor a soccer tournament that allows workers from different farms to connect and enjoy recreational activities. GRCHC proudly sponsors one of the teams, further strengthening our bond with the community.

The evolution of the IAW program

Over the years, the IAW Program has evolved. At the conclusion of each season, we hold meetings to evaluate our performance and propose new ideas to better address the needs of agricultural workers.

We dream of a future where all agricultural workers receive permanent residency, fair working conditions, overtime pay, and employment benefits, allowing them to enjoy life like any other resident in Canada. While there is still a long road ahead, we remain confident that our vision will become a reality. In the meantime, we are prepared for another season of service. The power of the solidarity between these workers and those providing services is strong, but more importantly, it is a model of how workers can unite for positive change, no matter how slowly it may come.

Note: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of GRCHC, NFHT, or HFHT. They reflect the views of the author.

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WORKS CITED
Obokata, Tomoya. Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, on his visit to Canada. United Nations Human Rights Council, Aug. 2024.
Amnesty International. “Canada has destroyed me”: Labour exploitation of migrant workers in Canada. 30 Jan. 2025.