A group advocating for migrant farmworkers is claiming government and employer negligence resulted in an outbreak of COVID-19 at a West Kelowna agricultural business.
The Migrant Rights Network (MRN), Canada香蕉视频直播檚 migrant alliance, is calling on the federal government to immediately require employers of migrant workers to provide adequate health and safety protections to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. A total of 19 cases has been confirmed at Bylands Nurseries Ltd. among 75 workers 香蕉视频直播� 63 migrant and 12 local 香蕉视频直播� which the MRN cites as a direct result of substandard housing and working conditions.
READ MORE:Interior Health confirms five additional cases in West Kelowna COVID-19 outbreak
According to the MRN, thousands of workers are expected to arrive in Canada in the coming days.
The MRN has sent a detailed letter to the federal government outlining necessary changes and requesting a consultation to create regulations that ensure worker rights and safety, as part of our broader demands for migrant justice during COVID-19.
香蕉视频直播淯nsafe housing and lack of labour and immigration rights have put migrant farmworkers at immense risk,香蕉视频直播� said Byron Cruz from Sanctuary Health in Vancouver. 香蕉视频直播淎lready workers in Kelowna have become infected because of lack of enforceable quarantine requirements. We are worried about the lack of plans from the relevant health authorities to provide adequate access to health care for migrant workers.香蕉视频直播�
Sanctuary Health, a group united for refugee and migrant health, is supporting workers who are in quarantine on several farms. The group claims workers have been abandoned by employers and are relying on the support of community groups for food.
香蕉视频直播淭his crisis has made it urgently clear that employer and government negligence to ensure decent housing and working conditions must end. In a public health crisis, we cannot protect anyone if we do not protect everyone,香蕉视频直播� said Syed Hussan, Executive Director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
香蕉视频直播 reached out to Bylands Nurseries香蕉视频直播� vice president of sales and human resources, Mike Byland, for comment but did not receive a response specific to the allegations. Byland said at this time the company is focused on the health and safety of its employees and nobody will be speaking publicly, however, the company is issuing statements on its social media pages.
On April 1, Bylands Nurseries香蕉视频直播� Facebook page read the following:
香蕉视频直播淏ylands Nurseries Ltd has been participating in the established, government-led Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program since 2004. This mutually beneficial program allows us to meet seasonal business demands while providing workers with wages that allow them to support their families at home with education and medical needs. Many of our guest workers return to Bylands year-after-year 香蕉视频直播� some have continued to work with us since 2004 and, over the last 15 years, have become part of the family at Bylands. We have been recognized as one of the best employers of temporary foreign workers in BC for our accommodations and internal processes.香蕉视频直播�
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