The Department of Labour, under the chairmanship of Minister for Labour, Hon. Stephenson King, is currently hosting the 2018 annual Canada-Caribbean Agricultural Workers Programme Intergovernmental Review Meeting.

The meeting is a forum which brings stakeholders of the Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme together to discuss ways in which the gap in their labour market can be bridged with a view to expand employment opportunities for the OECS.

Minister King, at the opening ceremony of 2018 Review Meeting of the Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agriculture Workers Programme assured that the Government of Saint Lucia will be taking all precautions to ensure that nationals who partake in the program are mentally, physically and emotionally ready for the venture.

“Being forever mindful of the unemployment situation in Saint Lucia and the OECS, I continue to make it my duty to source offshore employment opportunities for our people, with a view to ensuring that when these opportunities become available, we are able to access them,” Minister King said. “My ministry will soon be undertaking a rigorous orientation and training program for future workers in preparation for work in Canada and beyond. This orientation program will cover a number of components including but not limited to the Canadian work culture, comportment and behavior in a foreign country, health and safety consciousness, the Canadian weather and climate, biases and anxieties, work ethics, cultural transformation, and savings and thrift.”

The Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme mandate is to allocate foreign workers to farms in Canada for six weeks to eight months annually. It is expected that this approach will help eliminate the labour shortages in the agricultural sector in Canada.

President of the British Colombia Fruit Growers Association in Canada, highlighted the many challenges which have plagued the sector.

“Today, the number of workers from the Caribbean region has grown to 1300 in British Colombia. Looking ahead, the sector has a bright production outlook, but to reach its growth potential, it must address its growing labour challenges caused by the widening labour gap. By 2025, it is predicted that 11,000 positions could go unfilled due to the lack of domestic labour in British Colombia. A similar shortage in Ontario is predicted at 46,000, and close to 11,000 in Quebec. Agriculture has its challenges. With this, we have enjoyed mutual success with the seasonal program. To the critics, there have been a few ripples from time to time but the positive outcome has been the development of a strong future and better relationships we can be proud of.”

The delegation comprised Ministers of Labour, Permanent Secretaries, and Labour Commissioners from across the OECS, diplomats from the Canadian Federal Government and the Canadian High Commission Services, Canadian delegates, Canadian farm employers, and Eastern Caribbean Liaison Services Officials.

The inter-governmental review meeting is being held from November 18 to 24.