Take Immediate Action to Stop the Forced isolation of Foreign Farm Workers
July 28, 2020
In early July, Erika Zavala and Jesus Molina, two Mexican temporary foreign workers were fired by Bylands Nurseries in West Kelowna and repatriated three days later. They were fired because they violated their employer’s policy not to leave the farm site or have visitors even though they were not in their 2 weeks of quarantine. They were visited by two members of RAMA who brought them clothing and culturally-appropriate food while following all recommended physical distancing guidelines as outlined by the province of BC.
Bylands Farms is not the only employer of SAWP workers that is restricting the ability of migrant workers to have visitors and access communities to purchase essential items or access essential services. Some of the largest employers of SAWP workers in the Okanagan (such as Coral Beach Farms and Jealous Fruits) have stated publicly that they will be restricting their foreign workers’ access to local communities.
Workers from Coral Beach and Jealous Fruits have been in contact with RAMA members and other community advocates expressing that they feel they are being illegally held on the farm without any access to local communities. “We feel like prisoners”, one worker told RAMA, “Canadians are allowed to go buy groceries at the store, go to church, go to the park – why aren’t we?”
The forced isolation of temporary foreign farmworkers after their quarantine period by employers such as Bylands, Jealous Fruits, and Coral Beach must be stopped immediately. These racist and discriminatory actions violate the human rights of these essential workers and is detrimental to their health and wellbeing as well as that of the local communities as they erect barriers for workers to report symptoms directly to health care personnel and access supports from local communities.
Call to Action: Call or email Bylands, Coral Beach, and Jealous Fruits
(Tips for your call/email are below)
| Bylands Contact: Mike Byland: mikeb@bylands.com Devon Hunt: devonh@bylands.com | Coral Beach Farms contact: Phone: (250) 766-5393 Email: HR@coralbeach.ca | Jealous Fruits Ltd. Contact: Phone: 250-766-0738 Email: info@jealousfruits.com |
Contact the BC Ministers of Labour and Health
(Tips on what to say are below)
| BC Minister of Labour Contact:Honorable Minister Harry Bains Email: LBR.Minister@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250 356-1346 | BC Minister of Health Contact:Honorable Minister Adrian Dix Email: HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250 953-3547 |
Tips for When you Call or Email
– Introduce yourself and explain you are a community member in the Okanagan Valley
– Let them know you are calling to express your concern and outrage regarding your company’s policy restricting foreign workers from leaving farm property or having visitors
– Stress that it is crucial for all workers to have access to supports and services in the community, and restricting workers from this violates their rights
– Express that temporary foreign farm workers are essential to our region’s food system and they must have the same rights and protections as Canadian workers
– Policies that restrict these workers’ freedom of mobility are discriminatory and must be stopped immediately
When contacting Bylands, Coral Beach Farms, or Jealous Fruits
– Express that until the company stops isolating temporary foreign workers and ensures they have safe and regular access to local communities, you will no longer be purchasing any of your products.
When contacting the ministers, demand that they:
– Clearly and immediately communicate to both workers and employers that restricting Temporary Foreign workers beyond quarantine period is inappropriate and unlawful
– Implement mechanisms for workers to report inappropriate restrictions
– Immediately begin unannounced, onsite inspections for all employers of temporary foreign workers
– Implement measures to ensure employers provide means for workers to directly, independently, and safely access supports/services
– Implement an investigation and appeals process for any worker who is terminated