St. Lucians continue to benefit from Canadian Seasonal Farm Worker Program
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St. Lucians continue to benefit from Canadian Seasonal Farm Worker Program |
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Contact: Sherlana Ernest
Friday 3 June 2011 – Many Saint Lucian males have benefited from the Canadian Seasonal Farm Worker Program. Just like Grenada and St Vincent, Saint Lucia is one of the many Caribbean countries involved in this particular initiative.
Employment Officer in the Labour Department, Cynthia Francois, spoke in detail on the initiative.
“We have the Canadian Seasonal Farm Worker Program, which has been in existence for over thirty years. What it does is provides employment opportunities for local farmers on the island and the contract period is from six to nine months.
“Workers are employed to work on various farms such as fruits and vegetables. They travel from January to September. And the administrative process usually begins from September and ends in June, when all farmers are requested to go up to Canada. And for anyone who wants to apply we put out notices out from October of the year to March the following year.”
Francois says at the end of each period of work, the farm workers are given remittances. On returning home they receive monies saved from their salaries while in Canada.
At least 40 Saint Lucian workers or more, travel to Canada every year as part of the Canadian Single Farm Worker Program.
Interested males between the ages of 22 to 45 can apply to the program. Applicants must have had experienced in farming, as well as a valid passport, two job references from prior employers, and two character references from non-relatives.
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