The majority of farmworkers are not white, but people of colour. Here in Canada, owners of a wide range of farm bases, the vast majority are Indigenous or Migrant workers, while many black farmers are also dependent on agriculture as a means of survival.
In fact, we all are, we need food to survive. But, on the backs of whom, not to mention prisoners who may be used for farm labour on private enterprises, or independently owned farm bases.
This manure stinks of injustice.
While some are forced to produce and harvest the very things we need to keep ourselves alive, those who farm as a form of living are not treated any better.
According to the Ontario website Farmers who grow or produce “…Eggs, milk, grain, seeds, fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, maple products, honey, tobacco, herbs, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, deer, elk, ratites, bison, rabbits, game birds, wild boar and cultured fish.” Are exempted from the protections and policies put in line by the employment standards act of Canada. Policies that ensure minimum wages, break-time, vacation time, and protections against unfair or unsafe workplaces and tasks.
The exceptions break up is a clustered list that I managed to break down.
These exceptions apply to all farm employees I mentioned above and fishers as well!
- minimum wage
- daily and weekly limits on hours of work
- daily rest periods
- time off between shifts
- weekly/bi-weekly rest periods
- eating periods
- three-hour rule
- overtime pay
- public holidays or public holiday pay
- vacation with pay
The systemic discrimination does not end there. Farmers in the following categories are also exempted from a wide majority of the protections and policies.
- Flower growers
- Fresh fruit and vegetable processors
- Growing, transporting or laying sod
- Tree and shrub growers
- Fruit, vegetable and tobacco harvesters
- Horse boarding and breeding
- Hunting and fishing guides, wilderness guides
- Furbearing mammal keepers
All farmworkers are not entitled to these 3 basic human needs and functions, time to go to the bathroom or get out of the hot sun, 12 hours out there does not sound fun! Lunch? No time to even eat food, or have the simple freedom to exist outside of work.
- daily and weekly limits on hours of work
- daily rest periods
- eating periods
So What?…
Well, (REWIND!) the majority of farmworkers are not white, but people of colour. Mainly black and indigenous people of colour, migrant workers, and prisoners. The government, owners of farmland, and producers of the employment standards act have deliberately designed a mechanism to ensure there will always be supply for demand. We will always demand food, and thus the government will always work to supply. Regardless of those whose rights may be violated in the process.
The government has no desire to change these policies unless we act now!
We must demand the policies to be upheld for those who are most vulnerable and may not be able to speak for themselves!
Sign the petition for Migrant-Rights today, If you believe in justice, fairness and #StatusforAll
https://migrantrights.ca/status-for-all/
Take a Look at the specific exemptions here!