Overseas union on farm work programme

The United Food and Commercial Workers\' Union in Canada has raised concerns over the future of hundreds of workers on the farm work programme in that country.



The concerns follow the repatriation of some 18 Jamaican workers who were employed to a mushroom farm in Ontario, Canada under the Temporary Foreign Workers Programme.



The Jamaicans were among over 70 workers, which included Mexicans, who were sent home by the company a few weeks before Christmas under controversial circumstances.



The Canadian trade union claims the workers were fired by the company, Rolland Farms.



In response to the claims, Rolland Farms, said the company is restructuring its operations in light of the economic pressures facing it and had therefore sought protection from its creditors.



The union is fearful that more migrant workers under the Programme could be let loose by other companies and repatriated in the New Year.



Labour minister Pearnel Charles says he will be looking into the circumstances that led to the repatriation of the Jamaicans.



He says while the Government is concerned about the security of jobs of workers in light of the economic difficulties facing some developed countries, they have been satisfied that it will be business as usual on the farms.



Close to eight thousand Jamaicans are employed under the Caribbean- Canada Agricultural Workers Programme.