SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS PROGRAM
Allows employers to hire seasonal agricultural workers from Mexico and several Caribbean countries
Must offer a minimum of 240 hours of work within a period of six weeks or less
For a maximum duration of eight months between January 1 and December 15
GUIDELINES FOR HIRING SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
Undertake recruitment efforts
Provide a human resources plan to describe efforts made to hire unemployed Canadians
Indicate in the advertisement the employment conditions offered and offer the same wage as offered Canadian workers
OTHER CONDITIONS…
Pay for round trip airfare
Pay for work visa
Provide free housing
Register the worker with WCB and an insurance plan
Prepare and sign an employment contract
LABOUR MARKET OPINION
Complete and submit an application
If approved, Mexico will recruit worker and help him/her apply for a work permit and visa
COSTS COVERED BY THE EMPLOYER
Partially pay for round trip airfare
Pay costs of travel between airport and place of work
Free (and approved) housing with cooking area and pots and pans
Provide free WCB coverage and make sure worker is registered with provincial health insurance plan
COSTS COVERED BY THE WORKER
EI and CPP premiums
A portion of the airfare
Income taxes
Work permit fee
COMMODITIES AND PREVAILING WAGE RATES
2010 Hourly Wage Rate
Fruits and vegetables
$8.80
Supervised Apiary
$10.71
Unsupervised Apiary
$11.74