New education support marks 60 years of Jamaica Canada farm labor partnership
The Government of Jamaica has launched a new scholarship program to support the children of Jamaican workers employed on Ontario fruit and vegetable farms through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. The initiative aims to improve access to education while recognizing the long history of cooperation between Jamaica and Canada.
“Education is the one thing that can equalize, and it levels the playing field to unlock potential. When you give a child that leg up, it helps not just that child but also their family and their community,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., during the launch in Kingston, Jamaica last week.
“The idea for this scholarship came during a conversation in Canada last year and today, we are moving from talking about helping to providing a program that will help – that’s the best reflection of a legacy partnership,” said Pearnel.
The scholarship program is supported by a $10,000 contribution from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. This funding will help 10 Jamaican students cover important high school expenses, including accommodation, transportation, books, and school uniforms. The program was introduced as part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
Jamaica first partnered with Canada in 1966, when Jamaican workers arrived in Ontario to assist with fruit harvests. This early cooperation helped create one of Canada’s longest-running agricultural labor programs. Over time, the program expanded to include workers from several countries and now supports Ontario’s horticulture sector with more than 30,000 seasonal workers each year.
Education leaders from Jamaica emphasized that supporting students creates long-term benefits for families and communities. The scholarship program reflects ongoing collaboration between governments and farm organizations to support workers beyond their time on Canadian farms.
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is reviewed annually by governments and employers. These reviews have helped improve working conditions and worker support. In recent years, several measures have been introduced to strengthen protections, including open work permits for vulnerable workers, expanded mobility between employers, and stronger safeguards against unfair treatment.
Additional improvements include better access to multilingual support services, increased funding for worker advocacy groups, improved workplace injury coverage, and continued investments in worker housing. These efforts aim to create safer and fairer conditions for seasonal farm workers.
“These positive changes are the result of years of collaboration between employers, governments, and worker support groups,” said Bill George, Chair of the OFVGA Labour Committee. “We are proud to have committed partners like the government of Jamaica as we continue to work together to strengthen this long running and well-respected program. The workers’ contributions are critical to both the Jamaican economy and Canada’s food supply.”
Farm organizations highlighted the importance of partnership and cooperation in achieving these improvements. The scholarship program is another step in recognizing the vital role seasonal workers play in supporting agriculture and food production.
Photo Credit: OFVGA-logo