More of the same? Migrant agricultural workers’ health, safety, and legal rights in the COVID-19 context

Abstract

In this paper, we report on research findings from a cross-sectional survey with 143 primarily Mexican migrant agricultural worker respondents in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Participants reported high rates of experiences of threats and violence by employers, limited faith in the follow-through of both Canadian and country-of-origin authorities when reporting concerns, and a unanimous lack of knowledge in how to file a claim of a legal matter (e.g., housing, human rights violation). Most parti­c­ipants also reported that they believed they would receive poorer health care in relation to their Cana­dian counterparts and that their privacy would not be protected. While certain indicators, such as knowledge of resources for transportation, transla­tion, and legal advocacy were higher than previous research would suggest, most participants did not feel confident that more serious issues would be addressed if they sought help. Our results suggest migrant workers in BC report similar, or even higher, rates of experiences and expectations of poor social support, legal pro­tection, and health care in comparison to prior research in this region and elsewhere. While further research would be required to confirm this hypoth­esis, the impact of COVID-19 on this population is undeniable. Our findings highlight the need for greater regional and provincial commitments to fund targeted services for migrant agricultural workers that address the unique barriers they face. Additionally, greater attention and funding must be dedicated to supporting this population to navigate and access services that already exist. Together, dedicated initiatives could make a major difference for this workforce. Federal investments in support services of this nature would ensure the sustainabil­ity of such efforts. In addition, reforms to tempo­rary migrant agricultural programs, such as open work permits and immediate access to permanent residence, would better afford workers opportuni­ties to access the rights and protections that are currently out of reach for many.

Housing Conditions and Health Implications for Migrant Agricultural Workers in Canada: A Scoping Review

“…Access to internet utilities should be considered a basic right because it not only enables migrant farmworkers to maintain ties with families and communities abroad, but also to use e-health services (Price et al, 2013). This is crucial given that a lack of access to timely medical care can lead to preventable illness and death (Caxaj et al, 2022a). Nurses are emerging as leaders in advocacy for climate change, digital health equity, and racial justice (International Council of Nurses, 2020)areas of expertise that could be leveraged to inform a national housing strategy for this population, and ultimately, improve housing conditions for migrant farmworkers.…”

“…Ultimately, the quality of housing that is typically available to migrant agricultural workers can significantly undermine their physical and mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, congregate housing conditions for migrant agricultural workers contributed to a heightened risk of poor health outcomes and preventable death (Caxaj et al, 2022a(Caxaj et al, , 2022bVosko et al, 2022). Given the far-reaching health consequences of housing and food security to health outcomes, nurses have a moral and professional obligation to advocate for dignified housing (Vold et al, 2019).…”

Vulnerable to Precarity: COVID-19 and the Experience of Difference by Newcomers, Immigrants, and Migrant Workers in Canada

“…This was exacerbated by the pervasive discriminatory assumptions about who needs public protection and who does not (Caxaj & Cohen, 2021). Caxaj et al (2022) found that Mexican migrant agricultural workers in British Columbia reported:…”

Health, social and legal supports for migrant agricultural workers in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: a scoping review

“…A potential implication of these gaps in protections may be that there is a need for more safety representatives to address workplace risks and prevent hazardous incidents, especially because prior research indicates that those with safety representatives are more likely to be better protected in the workplace (67). More proactive and regular inspections of workplace health and safety conditions have also been recommended (47,68,69).…”