The COVID-19 crisis grappling Canadian migrant workers

As farming jobs have become less appealing to Canadians, over 20,000 migrant workers from Guatemala, Mexico, and the Caribbean are coming into Canada every year to work on Ontario farms in the Windsor-Essex region [1]. They are able to do so through the federal established initiative labeled the Temporary Foreign Workers Program [2]. However, their precarious living conditions on these farms, and the power struggle they face with the farm owners, often places them in vulnerable situations [2]. These issues are often linked to their livelihoods, specifically to their income streams and health.

COVID-19 has only exacerbated the long-standing, systemic issue and illuminated the many injustices and inequities that this community struggles with. For instance, the living conditions of migrant workers has been a contentious issue for quite some time now. Agriculture workers tend to reside in cramped, shared spaces where achieving physical distancing is impossible. Furthermore, transportation to and from the farms occurs in a group setting. The compounded effects of the living circumstances provide the perfect breeding grounds for viral transmission. Investigations show employers of migrant farm workers didn’t have strict regulations at the beginning of the pandemic [3]. Farms were allowed to submit outdated housing inspection reports, up to 3-years old, in order to secure workers [3]. However, these lax requirements were present prior to the pandemic, hidden due to a lack of federal enforcement. Accommodation regulations were virtually non-existent; home inspections were being conducted 3-weeks before migrant workers arrived, allowing employers to get away with poor housing conditions during their stay [3,4]. To illustrate, inspections that were conducted at the time of a migrant worker's stay, at most, examined workplace conditions, not living [3]. Migrant workers have also implied that pre-planned investigations allow employers to “tidy up” the work environment to portray “better” working conditions [3].

Moreover, there is fear mongering within the community that acts as a barrier to seeking COVID-19 testing [1, 5]. The reasons behind the fear are multifold. Firstly, the future employment of migrant workers is impacted by previous employer’s evaluations. In other words, if a farm owner had a target on a migrant worker, they can ensure that they are unable to seek a job in Canada the following year [2]. Secondly, migrant workers are unable to freely change employers. Both reasons translate into migrants not stepping up to claim their rights out of fear of job loss [2]. Some farm owners have taken advantage of the current situation, declining COVID-19 testing access requests. The farmers are prioritizing economic loss over human rights[5]. To be fair, governing bodies have mandated that farm operations be shut down and all employees be barred from work upon the reporting of a positive case [1]. This translates to large financial losses and crop failures for a seasonal industry, a major discouraging factor for testing. There is something to be said for what is at stake for migrant workers too if they were to take the test [5]. Given that they hold a temporary status within the country, they are not entitled to any government aid and are forced to continue working through the crisis to maintain their livelihood [3]. It does not help that the provincial government guidelines were updated on June 24th to allow positive, asymptomatic COVID-19 cases to continue working [1].

Furthermore, inaccessibility to healthcare is another key driver in the growing number of COVID-19 cases among these migrant workers, specifically in the Windsor-Essex region [6]. Migrant workers are legally entitled to access healthcare services whilst in Canada, either privately through their employers or through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) [6]. However, they often face barriers accessing care due to fears of repatriation, long workdays, language barriers, and dependence on their employers to access these health care services [2]. Since their ability to work in Canada is determined by their physical health status, this has led to fears of reporting any injuries or health issues out of fear of losing their employment [2]. The COVID-19 climate has further exasperated this issue, as many migrant workers fear accessing healthcare services not only because of how it may impact their employment status, but also the consequences it may have for their employers [6]. Additionally, many workers, specifically undocumented workers, are under the assumption that they are not eligible for COVID-19 testing [6]. These undocumented workers are those who’s immigration status in Canada has expired, and as a result are ineligible for OHIP [6]. Although local hospitals are providing free COVID-19 screening and treatment regardless of immigration status [6]. However, consistency is questionable, as some workers reported being billed for COVID-19 tests as well as other services [3].

In the Windsor-Essex region the situation has been getting out of hand, with 3 migrant workers succumbing to COVID-19.7 The Windsor mayor called for support from the provincial and federal governments to enforce regulations in the region [7]. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier, Doug Ford have both publicly addressed the topic, threatening consequences for farmers that restrict access to testing [1]. Thus far, Ford has deployed mobile testing units to remote farms to destigmatize testing and help enforce measures to protect migrant workers [1]. Additionally, Ford continues to plead for cooperation from farmers to ensure the safety of farmers, the workers, and the supply chain [1]. Yet, the pandemic should not be the only reason migrant workers struggles are recognized by both the provincial and federal government. Moving forward, the findings, impromptu regulations, and messaging, put in place for the safety of migrant workers, should be adapted and enhanced to ensure future workers are receiving quality living and health standards for the duration of their work period.

References

1. Jeffords, S., 2020. Protect Migrant Workers or Face Consequences, Ford and Trudeau Warn Farmers. [online] Global News. Available at: <https://globalnews.ca/news/7093292/coronavirus-ontario-federal-government-farm-inspections/?fbclid=IwAR2PuBE2u1LdkG7SO5mJQ8NEJZigvB8SG7RR_mYP0W4o7Fg3HJAp1Ctt_CI> [Accessed 16 July 2020].

2. Pysklywec, M., McLaughlin, J., Tew, M. and Haines, T., 2011. Doctors within borders: meeting the health care needs of migrant farm workers in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 183(9), pp.1039-1042.

3. Blaze, K. & Grant, T., 2020. Ottawa Didn’t Enforce Rules for Employers of Migrant Farm Workers During Pandemic. [online] The Globe and Mail. Available at: <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-how-ottawas-enforcement-regime-failed-migrant-workers-during-the/> [Accessed 16 July 2020].

4. Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), 2020. Seasonal Housing. [online] Available at https://www.swpublichealth.ca/your-environment/environmental-health/seasonal-housing [Accessed July 17, 2020].

5. D'Amore, R., 2020. Windsor-Essex Is One of Canada’s Worst Coronavirus Hotspots. Here’s Why. [online] Global News. Available at: <https://globalnews.ca/news/7173993/coronavirus-windsor-migrant-workers/?fbclid=IwAR1s2IgV1YWd-oLF06Q8IHFwN16-ke5iQ2SfEEQnmF1N5_vVXQYtEeyLUXs> [Accessed 16 July 2020].

6. Gatehouse, J., 2020. How Undocumented Migrant Workers Are Slipping Through Ontario's COVID-19 Net | CBC News. [online] CBC. Available at: <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/leamington-migrant-workers-1.5633032> [Accessed 16 July 2020].

7. Jeffords, S., 2020. Three Migrant Workers Dead. Hundreds Infected. Windsor Region Last to Grapple With COVID-19 In Ontario. [online] National Post. Available at: <https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/windsor-mayor-asks-farmers-to-test-workers-and-stop-covid-19-spread> [Accessed 16 July 2020].