Labour Minister Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. says there could be a reduction in the number of Jamaicans participating in the Canadian farm work programme amid complaints about the working conditions.
Mr. Charles, who was a guest on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM Monday, said he was not expressing his views in his capacity as Minister but as a "common sense Jamaican".
"I believe that there may be many different elements that will affect the mind of a person who is managing a farm and trying to determine whether they want to put the Jamaicans or Mexicans or Canadians or whomever. And I do believe - this is just my opinion now - I do believe that those are things that will be considered."
Mr. Charles said while he respects the bilateral relationship between Jamaica and Canada, his primary responsibility as Minister is to protect the rights and interest of Jamaicans.
"Part of that is ensuring the integrity of the programme, which means we can't just take what anybody says. We have to investigate it. And whatever facts come before us, we determine based on those facts. And then we act accordingly based on the facts, not just based on the opinion. And that's what we're doing," he said, adding that the process so far has been "smooth".
He said more investigations will continue and Jamaicans will hopefully be given more information this week.
Approximately 10,000 Jamaicans are part of the seasonal programme, which began in 1966, and are spread across 655 farms in 10 provinces.
About 80 per cent are returning workers.
Terminated contracts
The Labour Minister said there could be other reasons for the early termination of the contracts of six farm workers in Canada.
Five of the six workers who returned to the country earlier this month are claiming victimisation.
The workers say they are being punished after they stayed off the job for a day in June this year to protest the condition of their living quarters which were flooded with wastewater.
Mr. Charles provided the update Monday on the ongoing investigation.
"There has been a situation with the weather. That's not something we can make up. That's something that the facts show. Two, it's obvious to me that persons that were involved in this situation still remain. Matter of fact, the majority of them still remain. So it will give me some concern to just latch it on to that alone without more."
Mr. Charles suggested there could be other reasons for the terminations, alluding to issues related to working relationships, which he said he would not publicly disclose.
He said the sixth farm worker did not return to the island after his contract was terminated.
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