Migrant Staff
Taking care of our staff.
At Shuh Orchards, like many other farming operations in Ontario and across the country, we partner with seasonal agricultural workers. Our migrant staff are from Jamaica, and while Dave and Leroy are our main staff during the spring and summer, we have the pleasure of working with 15 other migrant staff during the fall harvest.
By upholding the highest standards of our local Public Health Unit, the Ministry of Labour, and the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, you can be confident that we have built trustworthy and transparent relationships with our migrant staff.
At Shuh Orchards, we take every opportunity to provide the best of what Elmira and Canada have to offer. Without staff like Dave and Leroy, we would not be able to provide the quality of apples that we grow.
FAQs
Why don't you just hire local staff to work on the orchard?
Each year, we advertise on job boards to find staff for the upcoming season and have found that due to the 8 month season, it is extremely difficult to attract local workers. Our migrant staff bring decades of experience working on Ontario apple orchards and bring a dedicated work ethic that reaches beyond the physical work required. All of our workers have a stake in the success of Shuh Orchards.
Do seasonal agricultural workers receive the same compensation as domestic workers?
Seasonal agricultural staff are paid a wage stipulated by the Government of Canada and receive accommodation for free for the entire time they are in Canada. It is illegal for staff to be paid lower than the stipulated wage.
Are seasonal agricultural workers required to work 7 days a week with little to no breaks?
Our staff, along with all temporary foreign workers in Canada, are required to take one day off every 7 days. Breaks are always a part of every work day, no matter how busy the orchard is.
The media often portrays housing conditions for temporary foreign workers as unacceptable. Is there any truth to this?
No. Our accommodations are rigorously inspected by the local Public Health Unit on an annual basis with attention to the size of the living space, adequate bathrooms, and proper maintenance of the building.
Do migrant staff contribute to the local, Canadian and Jamaican economy?
Yes, our migrant staff have all the same income deductions that any domestic worker would pay (e.g. income tax, CPP, EI, etc.). When our staff can provide educational opportunities to their children, the Jamaican economy benefits greatly (e.g. literacy rates, graduation rates, etc.).
How are you protecting your workers from COVID-19?
At the beginning of the season, we completed a voluntary Ministry of Labour audit and enhanced our COVID protocols to ensure daily active health screening, staff training, cleaning protocols, and protective equipment all met the highest standards. After an unannounced audit, Shuh Orchards was complimented on the systems we had put in place to ensure the safety of our staff.
Learn more about Canadian migrant staff.
Interested in learning more about our staff and Canada’s seasonal agriculture workers? Check out these videos and click the button below!
