Immigration Corner | What Canada’s new leadership means for Jamaican farm workers

Dear Miss Powell,

I heard that Canada has a new prime minister and a new Immigration Minister. I was hoping to apply for the farm work programme. Will this affect my chances of getting a job in Canada or participate in the programme? How do I apply? Are they cancelling the programme? Hope to read your answer.

B.B.

Dear B.B.,

Canada recently welcomed a new prime minister, Mark Carney, and a new Minister of Immigration, Rachel Bendayan. These changes come at a time when the country is reviewing its broader immigration system, including the number of temporary residents it allows in. Understandably, many people worldwide are wondering if the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) will continue.

The short answer is yes, for now, and hopefully for years to come. The programme has not been cancelled, although we expect that some changes will be implemented.

What is SAWP

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is one of the oldest and most reliable work programmes connecting Jamaican workers to legal and temporary employment in Canada. This programme was established in 1966, between the Government of Canada and participating countries, including Jamaica, Mexico, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The programme allows Canadian farm employers to hire foreign workers for up to eight months during peak farming seasons. These positions typically involve planting, harvesting, and general farm work. SAWP is considered essential to Canada’s agricultural industry and continues to operate, even amid shifting immigration policies.

The programme is designed to assist Canadian employers who are faced with labour shortages. To hire under the programme, Canadian employers must first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) report to show there are no Canadians available to fill the role. The employers must be able to provide, workers with various benefits from free housing, provincial health coverage, written contracts, and workplace protections under Canadian labour laws.

How to Apply

In Jamaica, all SAWP applications are managed exclusively by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS). Interested individuals must apply through the ministry’s offices. Do not use private recruiters or pay anyone to process your application. No application fee is required.

To qualify, you must be between 21 and 45 years old, provide two character or job references, preferably in farming or construction, have a valid passport, with at least one year before expiry, provide a police record, birth certificate, NIS, TRN, medical certificate and submit two recent passport-sized photographs. While English or French is not mandatory, the ability to understand instructions is an asset.

Canada still needs farm workers and SAWP remains one of the most secure and structured paths for Jamaicans to legally work abroad. Despite talk of reducing the number of temporary residents to five per cent of Canada’s population, no changes have been made to SAWP. Prime Minister Carney and Minister Bendayan have not announced any revisions to this important programme. However, as immigration priorities may shift, it’s wise to stay prepared.

My advice is that you should keep your documents updated, follow instructions from your liaison officer, and monitor official announcements from the Government of Canada, or the Jamaican Ministry of Labour.

If you have additional questions about the SAWP or other Canadian immigration question you may submit same via WhatsApp or Facebook.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and notary public in Canada. Send your questions via WhatsApp 613-695-8777 or via Facebook.