Manitoba to provide health benefits to seasonal migrant workers
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/05/2013 (3607 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The province shocked advocates rallying outside the legislature for Manitoba’s migrant farm workers today when Immigration Minister Christine Melnick announced health coverage will now be provided for the estimated 400 seasonal workers who plant and harvest Manitoba produce every year.
“This will give workers great peace of mind,” said Jennifer deGroot with the Migrant Worker Solidarity Network. “I’m shocked. I’m thrilled.”
The workers in the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program come from Mexico and Caribbean countries. They have been paying for private health insurance, and they contribute to Employment Insurance although they are ineligible for those benefits and the Canada Pension Plan.
“Our government recognizes the hard and physically demanding work done by seasonal agricultural workers and we have heard the challenges they have faced with accessing health care,” said Melnick.
“Manitoba’s economy relies on seasonal agricultural workers and we compete with other provinces to attract them here, which is why we’re changing our health coverage, to be in line with that already offered in Saskatchewan.”
