Nationwide News understands that Jamaicans are among dozens of farm workers who’ve been infected with COVID-19 at the Greenhill Produce in Ontario.

The coronavirus pandemic is again highlighting longstanding issues plaguing the farm work programme.

These include overcrowded bunkhouses, lack of personal protective equipment and the absence of labour rights.

This, as Canada considers the agriculture industry an essential business and migrants essential workers. 

On Friday, April 24 another batch of Jamaicans left the island for Canada on the seasonal work programme.

The farm workers have been allowed to enter the country despite border closures due to COVID-19.

But, the workers who’ve journeyed to Canada are at risk.

Already, migrant workers have been infected with the coronavirus and there’s concern it could get worse.

Chris Ramsaroop, Organiser of the migrant worker advocacy group Justice for Migrant Workers, J4MW, told Nationwide that in recent days some 42 persons have been infected with the virus on a farm in Ontario.

J4MW has taken to several platforms to highlight some of the issues that could significantly increase the possibility of migrant workers in the agricultural industry contracting COVID-19.

Mr. Ramsaroop says on the particular farm in Ontario, migrant farmers say up to six people were being housed in one room with minimal social distancing.

Non-regulated communal housing is a common feature of the seasonal work programme.

But with COVID-19, the need for social distancing requires adjusted living conditions to protect workers.

However Mr. Ramsaroop says he’s received pictures from workers which show three to four people in one room.

He also says migrant workers do not receive personal protective equipment and complain about the lack of social distancing on the job.

With these seemingly unsafe conditions that could fuel the spread of the coronavirus, workers have kept quiet.

But why?

A former migrant worker, Gabrielle Allahdua says fear of unemployment and being sent home for complaining keep migrant workers silent.

And Mr. Ramsaroop says this is coupled with the lack of labour rights for migrant workers.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ramsaroop says workers who’ve not gone on the farm work programme should be able to access their benefits under Canada’s Employment Insurance System from their home country.

Mr. Allahdua says the opportunity for farmworkers to become permanent residents is one of the remedies to many of the problems faced by the employees.

In the meantime, Mr. Ramsaroop disclosed that Jamaican farm workers this year signed a waiver that absolved the Jamaican government of any responsibility if any of them contract the virus while in Canada.

He also disclosed that workers who’ve recently arrived during the 14-day quarantine period are supposed to be paid for 30-hours a week during the quarantine.

However he’s been informed that employers are calling the payment a loan that should be repaid.

He says the programme lacks oversight.

Chris Ramsaroop, Organiser of the migrant worker advocacy group Justice for Migrant Workers speaking with Nationwide News.