The Government of Saint Lucia has conducted a thorough evaluation of the Canadian farm labour programme to assess its effectiveness and impact.
Led by Minister for Labour, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Emma Hippolyte, a delegation from the Department of Labour engaged directly with Saint Lucian farm workers in Canada, as well as Canadian agricultural employers, to evaluate the country’s participation in the programme.
The discussions, held on September 14 and 15, provided an opportunity for the delegation to gather firsthand accounts from Saint Lucian nationals currently working on Canadian farms.
Additionally, they met with farm owners and their representatives to gain insights into the programme’s operations from an employer’s perspective. Engagements with Saint Lucian workers centered around their experiences, covering topics such as working conditions, support systems, and the opportunities, benefits, and challenges associated with participating in the overseas agricultural employment programme.
The team also visited participating farms to discuss the employers’ experiences with the programme, including the requirements for employing Saint Lucian workers and opportunities within Canada’s agricultural sector.
Gathering perspectives from both workers and employers is crucial for the Government’s assessment, offering a comprehensive understanding of the programme’s effectiveness and the experiences of those involved.
Minister Hippolyte was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Sheila Imbert, Nadia Pierre-Louis from the Employment Unit of the Department of Labour, and Allison Joseph, in collaboration with Eastern Caribbean Liaison Services, which coordinates the programme in Canada.
This thorough assessment reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the experiences of workers and the views of stakeholders inform the evaluation of overseas employment initiatives.
Direct consultations with Saint Lucian participants and employers provide essential insight as the Government seeks to enhance and improve the programme.