By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023 | 9:46 AM

An independent investigation by the Jamaican government has found the majority of Jamaican farmworkers who come to Canada each season are satisfied with their living and working conditions under the Seasonal Agriculture Workers Programme (S.A.W.P.).

The investigation was launched after international media attention emerged citing allegations difficult working conditions involving Jamaicans who come to work on Canadian farms every summer.

A survey of Jamaican workers found that more than two-thirds of respondents agreed that the work in Canada aligned with their expectations, with a smaller group of 14.6 per cent saying that enrolling in SAWP and the work required was easier than anticipated.

The consensus among the respondents was a standard of a 10-hour day and 40-hour week.

More than 71.8 per cent of farmworkers believed treatment by their employer was either good or very good, and more than 87 per cent agreed that their farm owners treated them with respect.

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More information about Canada’s Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program can be found here.

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The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) appeared before the Agriculture and Agrifood Committee to discuss the Olymel plant closure in Quebec.

CPC Chair Rene Roy said the council has been eager to find short- and long-term solutions for the industry.

“We know the pressures Olymel faces are particular to the company, but that some of them are also those the industry faces as a whole,” Roy said in a news release. ““We also know modernization and diversification of our food processing capacity is going to be critical long-term, and we appreciated the opportunity to discuss how producers can access buyers for their products.”

Roy said the plant closure will impact Quebec, Atlantic Canada and other parts of the country and a national solution is required.

“This plant is for sale, and we believe this is an opportunity to potentially diversify the Canadian processing landscape,” he said. “We also know there is growing global demand for our products, so there must be a solution to help us meet that demand.”

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Maple Leaf Foods swung from a profit of $13.7 million in the first quarter of last year to a loss of $57.7 million this year.

It’s blamed a difficult pork market, cost inflation and higher start-up expenses.

Sales rose in the company’s meat protein group but fell in its plant protein segment.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW