As spring arrives, Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farms are once again welcoming seasonal and temporary farm workers from other countries. Five years after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, many improvements have been made to support and protect the workers who come to help grow the food Ontarians enjoy as part of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program’s agricultural stream.

“Five years ago, growers were unsure whether they would have workers to grow and harvest the many fruit and vegetable crops Ontarians love – and workers didn’t know whether they’d be able to come here to work. Those were stressful times for everyone, but five years later, it’s remarkable how much positive change has resulted since then,” says Bill George, grape grower and chair of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Labour Committee. 

“These important programs are still sometimes portrayed as leaving workers vulnerable without adequate housing or knowledge of their rights or the protections they’re entitled to, but a truly collaborative effort by farm employers, various levels of government and by the workers’ home countries has gone a long way to addressing legitimate concerns brought forward,” he adds. 

Legal work programs such as SAWP and the TFW program have strong rules that are regularly reviewed and updated. One key area of focus has been worker housing. While a new national housing standard is still being developed, many Ontario farmers have already proactively upgraded their housing at their own expense far beyond any existing regional standards and proposed changes. This housing is typically provided to farm workers for free (SAWP) or at minimal cost (no more than $30/week in the TFW program). 

Another important measure that has been put in place in recent years is the creation of open work permits for vulnerable workers, which allows workers in the TFW program to leave a problematic workplace and move to another employer. Workers in the SAWP can also request a transfer to another approved farm through their country’s consulate or liaison office.

After an independent investigation into SAWP by a government taskforce, a 2023 fact-finding report from the Jamaican government showed that most Jamaican workers have a positive view of SAWP, and that compliance with program rules is at a very high level in the agriculture sector.

SAWP is highly valued by Canadian employers, the international workers and their home countries. These jobs in Canada help support workers’ families with health care and education, start businesses and contribute to their communities back home. 

The federal government is currently reviewing and updating Canada’s TFW programs serving the agriculture industry, and the OFVGA, along with many other stakeholders, is involved in those discussions.

“Government, employers and worker advocacy organizations continue to work together to directly respond to challenges that have been identified with these programs – and we are proud of the many positive changes that have already been made,” says George. “We know that there is always more than can be done and we value the seasonal and temporary foreign workers that are such an essential part of Ontario’s local fruit and vegetable production.” 

Each year, more than 20,000 international workers come to Ontario farms through legal, government-approved programs such as SAWP and the TFW program agricultural stream. SAWP began in 1966 with just 264 Jamaican workers. Today, the heavily regulated, government-approved program is open to seasonal workers from Mexico, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Eastern Caribbean who return to their home countries at the end of each year.

Through its More than a Migrant Worker initiative, the OFVGA empowers these workers to share their stories in their own words while highlighting the important role they play in Canada’s food system and the ongoing investments and improvements being made in their safety and well-being.

Source:  Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association May 7, 2025 news release