Gov’t panel’s findings contradict claims of ‘slavery-like’ farm work conditions

The conditions under which Jamaican farmworkers live in Canada are not akin to “slavery”, a Jamaican government review panel has reportedly found, contradicting claims of inhumane existence that emerged last year August.

In fact, a majority of the more than 100 workers interviewed have reportedly indicated that they are either “satisfied” or “happy” with their living conditions on the decades-old seasonal agricultural programme that sees Jamaicans travelling to the North American country yearly.

The report with “significant” recommendations from a seven-member fact-finding team is expected to be tabled by Labour and Social Security Minister Karl Samuda in the House of Representatives in the coming days.

Cabinet last September approved the appointment of the team, headed by trade unionist Helene Davis-Whyte, to probe conditions under which Jamaicans are subjected to work after some complained of poor, inhumane conditions they face working on the overseas farms.

The team, after visiting several farms, including where the first set of complaints originated, found that Jamaicans who work under the programme were pleased with the conditions and indicated that they are “quite good”, well-placed Gleaner sources confirmed on Monday.

Both former and current workers were interviewed and the responses ranged from “unhappy and dissatisfied to excellent working conditions”, said one source.

The review team also looked at how farmworkers are compensated, one source said.

Jamaica’s chief liaison service officer in Canada, Kenneth Phillips, had rebuffed claims of mistreatment by farmworkers in the North American country, calling their reports “misguided” and “unfounded”.

That staunch defence corroborated Samuda’s repudiation of similar allegations of slave-like working conditions that have stoked a firestorm.

Approximately 10,000 Jamaicans are part of the seasonal programme, which began in 1966, and are spread across 655 farms in 10 provinces.

About 80 per cent are returning workers.

Some Jamaicans had complained that while living and working in a developed country, their living conditions were such that rats were eating their food.

They also said that there were no clothes dryers and so they were subjected to wearing cold clothes whenever it rained.

They complained of living in crowded rooms, that they had no privacy, and that cameras were placed around their living quarters, causing them to feel as though they were living in prisons.

In September, The Gleaner reported that more than 2,000 complaints of abuse or breaches of employment policies were filed against employers under the Seasonal Agricultural Work Programme, according to Employment and Social Development Canada.

Of that figure, only 43 per cent resulted in inspections being initiated and action taken.

The complaints were filed between April and August.

Over an undeclared period, 599 employers under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program or International Mobility Program were found to be non-compliant and were either hit with a financial penalty or banned from hiring temporary workers for a time.