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Resources for Migrant Farm Workers

Are you a migrant working in agriculture in Canada? Or, are you looking to support someone who is? Migrant farm workers are an important part of the labour force in Canadian agriculture, yet many face significant challenges—including barriers to healthcare, legal protections and fair wages.

Whether you’re seeking resources for yourself or advocating for others, we’ve compiled a list of organizations working to support migrant farm workers nationwide. From healthcare and mental health services to legal advocacy and worker’s rights, these groups provide essential services to migrant workers in Canada.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Migrant Workers Alliance for Change: A member-led organization of migrant farmworkers, care workers, students and more, working to win worker and immigration justice.
  • Migrant Rights Network: The Migrant Rights Network is a cross-Canada alliance to combat racism and fight for migrant justice. They are a network of organizations of migrants including farmworkers, care workers, international students, undocumented people and allies.
  • National Farmers Union Migrant Worker Subcommittee: This subcommittee seeks to extend and deepen the NFU’s understanding of migrant farm worker issues by providing information to members, offering recommendations to the NFU National Board, and providing a forum for members to share resources and learn together.
  • UFCW: Agricultural Workers Alliance (AWA): For more than thirty years, UFCW Canada has led the way to bring justice, safety, seniority, and good wages to workers in the agriculture sector. Along with the Agriculture Workers Alliance, UFCW Canada operates North America’s largest agriculture workers’ association with over 13,000 members.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

  • Migrant Workers Centre: A non-profit organization dedicated to legal advocacy for migrant workers in BC. MWC facilitates access to justice for migrant workers through the provision of legal education, advice and full representation. The organization also works to advance fair immigration policy and improved labour standards for migrant workers through law and policy reform and test case litigation.
  • RAMA (Okanagan): RAMA is a grassroots migrant justice group that strives to support the approximately 5,000 Latin American and Caribbean migrant farmworkers in the Okanagan Valley. Their aim is to be worker-led and to respond to the needs identified by migrant workers as they arise.
  • Umbrella Clinic (Lower Mainland): Deliver culturally-appropriate health care to immigrants and newcomers in the Lower Mainland.
  • Watari (Lower Mainland): Their Migrant 2 Migrant program supports under-resourced workers with information and access to clothing, food, shelter, and medical care.

ONTARIO

  • Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers: Since 2006 they have offered services to migrant farm workers, their employers and community partners with the aim to continue to become valued partners in agricultural and horticultural occupational health and safety. They provide resources and education on labour laws and worker safety, translation services, and so much more.
  • Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW): A volunteer-run political collective comprising people from diverse walks of life, including migrant workers, labour organizers, educators, researchers, students and racialized youth based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. J4MW is motivated by experiences shared and lessons learned from migrant farm workers over the course of nearly 20 years of community outreach in rural Ontario.
LOOKING TO LEARN MORE? 

Know of an organization you think should be added to this list? Get in touch with us at network@youngagrarians.org.

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