- Date
2009-04-27
- Authors
Agriculture Workers Alliance
- Abstract
“Over the past decade, UFCW Canada has supplied information and services to tens of thousands of seasonal agriculture workers who are fundamental to the Canadian agriculture sector. The majority of those workers come from Mexico under a long-established federal program that has always required health testing of workers before they arrive in Canada.
- Series title
AWA E-News
- Responsible institution
Agriculture Workers Alliance
- Full text
“Over the past decade, UFCW Canada has supplied information and services to tens of thousands of seasonal agriculture workers who are fundamental to the Canadian agriculture sector. The majority of those workers come from Mexico under a long-established federal program that has always required health testing of workers before they arrive in Canada.
On Monday, the federal government announced additional health screening protocols for these workers. To date, no Mexican worker in Canada has been diagnosed with the flu strain in question, and thousands of these workers have been here for months. That said, we support these protocols because safety is the top priority.
If these screening measures are considered appropriate for agriculture workers, logically they should also be used to screen all those entering Canada from Mexico, including tourists and business travellers as well. Viruses do not discriminate. The additional screening measures announced by the government should be applied to all those arriving in Canada from regions impacted by this new strain of flu.
As for workers already here from Mexico, our nine agriculture support centers continue to translate and distribute to them up-to-date information from the public health authorities. We are also there for any worker who is concerned about a health issue, or needs someone to act as an interpreter at a health clinic or hospital.
This is certainly a distressing time for all concerned. We share that concern and are prepared to work with all the stakeholders — here in Canada, and in Mexico, to ensure that safety remains the top priority for Canadians, for the workers, and for our communities.
- Links
-
Statement by Wayne Hanley, UFCW Canada, on Mexican agworkers in Canada (http://awa-ata.ca/en/media/e-news-2009/e-news-vol2-issue-15/)
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- Economic sectors
Agriculture and horticulture workers, Occupations in services - Domestic work, Sales and service occupations - general, Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations - general, Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations - general, and Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing
- Content types
Policy analysis
- Target groups
Policymakers, Journalists, Public awareness, Employers, agencies and their representatives, Researchers, Unions, and NGOs/community groups/solidarity networks
- Geographical focuses
Canada, Ontario, Alberta, México, Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, Other provinces, Federal, Nova Scotia, and National relevance
- Languages
French, English, and Spanish