Farm workers threaten legal action:

 Jennifer Baptiste-Primus. -
Jennifer Baptiste-Primus. -

A group of Trinidadians wants to travel to Canada to be part of its seasonal fruit picking operation.

Over 150 of them hope to travel to Ontario for its seasonal agricultural workers' programme and have written to Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for her ministry’s failure to facilitate their departure.

A pre-action protocol letter was sent to the minister on behalf of the workers and Brett Schuyler, owner of Schulyer Farms in Ontario, Canada, which will hire the group.

Attorney Gerald Ramdeen said Schulyer Farms wants to hire the men, but the ministry has not fulfilled the requirements needed so they can travel to Canada.

“You must understand that the employment of these persons as part of this programme is time-sensitive, having regard to the nature of the task that they are required to undertake as part of their employment,” Ramdeen said.

He told the minister, her ministry has failed to fulfil its obligations under the programme. “This is not only unlawful, but pathetically unfortunate, having regard to the present state of economic activity, or better described, non-activity in our country,” he added.

Ramdeen said TT citizens were fortunate to be eligible and suitable for the programme. He said they want to leave TT to take up jobs in Canada so that they can provide for their families.

“The salaries that they earn are repatriated to this country to the benefit of not only their families but the economy of TT.

“One would have expected that the Government and the Ministry of Labour would do all in its power to facilitate these persons in taking up employment with their employer in Canada,” he said.

Ramdeen said Schulyer has instructed that since March 26, he has been attempting to communicate with the government but has “continually been ignored or given vague answers that Cabinet has not yet decided, and we are waiting on an answer from Cabinet.”

He called on the minister to immediately ensure the necessary approvals and permissions are granted as part of her duty under the Commonwealth Caribbean Seasonal Agriculture Workers Programme (CCSAWP). These duties include  facilitating the processing of police certificates of character and medical examinations; processing of work permit applications, processing of insurance applications, among others.

Ramdeen warned the minister that legal action will follow if she fails to discharge her duties in law.

“I trust that you will recognise the wisdom of not forcing workers who depend on the Ministry of Labour to discharge their duties to facilitate their employment as part of the CCSAWP to have to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to compel the ministry to discharge their obligations,” he said.

He also said intended to bring the matter to the attention of the Canadian authorities, the Ambassador to Canada, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Ramdeen said this was a matter that can be amicably resolved and asked that the minister facilitate the workers’ request.

His letter was also copied to the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security.

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