TRINI SEASONAL WORKERS IN CANADA RUNNING SCARED

TRINIDAD and Tobago seasonal workers are afraid of being stranded once more in Canada. 

The farm workers are scared of becoming stuck again in cold communal bunk houses as a result of Covid-19. 

During the 2020 winter season, hundreds of T&T and other farmers were stranded in Ontario because of international travel restrictions. 

Altogether, there are about 20,000 such seasonal workers, but most are from Mexico, with some from other Caribbean countries. 

The person agitating on behalf of the workers is a Trini, Chris Ramsaroop, who leads an organisation called Justice for Migrant Workers. 

Ramsaroop told Toronto Star newspaper: “One of the main lessons that should be learned from the pandemic is ensuring the health and safety of workers as protected in the workplace and housing.” 

Workers are complaining about the risks to their health in high-risk congregations in cramped houses. 

The employees have hired an attorney Fay Faraday, who said: “Migrant farm workers live in their workplaces, and they don’t have a choice. 

“This is entirely their experience in Canada.” 

There are allegations that farm owners are not implementing housing and medical protocols imposed with respect to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme 

Faraday claimed that in some instances minimum standards are not met. 

Ramsaroop called on provincial inspectors to visit the farms and ensure compliance with labour standards. 

He is calling for bunk houses to be covered by workplace safety laws.