Positive changes improve experience for seasonal and temporary farm workers in Ontario

As fall harvest season kicks into high gear across Ontario, thousands of seasonal agricultural workers are playing essential roles in helping fruit and vegetable growers bring in their crops.

It’s one of the busiest times of the year for Ontario’s horticulture sector — and an opportunity to reflect on the many positive changes that have been made recently and continue to be made to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) programs for agriculture.

“Seasonal and temporary foreign workers are an essential part of local fruit and vegetable production in Ontario,” says Bill George, grape grower and chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association’s labour committee. “While there is always more to do, we are proud of the many positive changes that have been made in recent years to improve the experience for farm workers who come to Ontario and the ongoing process for continuous improvement.”

Over the last several years, federal and provincial governments, with the support of employers and workers’ home country governments, have introduced a series of new measures designed to strengthen worker protections and support, including :

- Open work permits for vulnerable workers — giving workers the ability to change employers if they experience unsafe or unfair treatment.

- Expanded mobility — making it easier for workers to apply for new work permits while already in Canada, while preserving the special mobility features of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) which allows workers to transfer between approved employers without a new work permit.