Liz, a womyn working as a migrant agricultural worker in Ontario, speaks about health issues & SAWP.

Series:

Migrant Matters Radio

  » # Episodes: 60
  » Most Recent: 5 Nov, 2015
  » Website: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=9085614140

Length: 0:19:40
Uploaded: 13 May, 2010

Recording Date: 9 Aug, 2009
Recording Location: Virgil, Ontario
Logsheet: none
Language: English
Topical for: Timeless
Status: Complete, Ready to Air
Copyright:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Program Title: La Salud de los Trabajadores Migrantes / Health & safety of migrant workers ignored
Description: El 9 de agosto de 2009, se organizó una Feria de Salud para Trabajadores Migrantes en Virgil, Ontario. MaryCarl Guiao de el show de radio “Migrant Matters” o “Asuntos Migratorios”, se encontró con Liz, una mujer que trabaja debajo del Programa de Trabajadores Agrícolas Temporales en Ontario, y entre los talleres y actividades de la feria Liz habló sobre sus preocupaciones y problemas asociadas con su salud trabajando aqui en Canada.

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English translation of title and description:

Health & safety of migrant workers ignored

On August 9th 2009, Migrant Worker Community Health Day was held in Virgil, Ontario. The event sought to create a space in which migrant agricultural workers labouring in the region could voice their concerns, initiate dialogue, receive resources, and collectively strategize on how to reduce barriers and better their ability to ensure their health and well being. The following interview briefly highlights concerns commonly forwarded by individuals in the migrant worker community of Virgil. The interview is with Liz, a Mexican womyn labouring under the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). She speaks to her experiences under the program and connects discussion to the issue of health.

Host(s): MaryCarl Guiao
Featured Speakers/Guests: Liz

Credits: migrantmatters@riseup.net

Comments: "My employer should understand that I'm not a machine..."- Liz

"What good are you to me in Canada if you can't work?" -an employer perpetuates the dominant culture of inhumaness, abuse and exploitation.

The issue of health and safety is one of central concern among migrant agricultural workers labouring under the SAWP. Under this porgram that brings them to work 'temporarily' in Ontario fields, their right to health and safety has been largely deprioritized and in many cased ignored, leaving these individuals continuing to sustain the Canadian agricultural industry at great personal risk.

Health day in Virgil itself consisted of a series of workshops related to health. These workshops were based on the active participation of those attending, and were driven by their testimony and knowledge.

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The event was organized by groups ENLACE and the Migrant Support Center.

If you're interested in helping out with migrant agricultural worker advocacy work contact:

ENLACE community link, enlace.canada@gmail.com

Agriculture Workers Alliance- Virgil, ON, niagara@awa-ata.ca

Fuerza/Puwersa (Guelph), Fuerza.Puwersa@gmail.com