Consulate office in Leamington to aid Mexican farmworkers
Consulate office in Leamington to aid Mexican farmworkers
The government of Mexico held its official opening of a consulate office Aug. 29 in Leamington, ON. The purpose of the office and the staff's assigned functions may well prove to be a lesson for other countries, including the United States.
The office, which is staffed by three people who are Mexican citizens, has been opened to assist the approximately 2,500 Mexican guestworkers who live and work in the area for periods of time throughout the year. These workers, and often the family members they bring with them to Canada, have typical and sometimes uniquely personal issues, concerns and problems that their Canadian employers, due primarily to language limitations, are not as apt to readily handle.
The Leamington area is known around the world today as having a world-class greenhouse vegetable and floral industry, second only to Holland. Growers and those associated with the greenhouse industry in the area utilize the latest technologies and advancements in their processes, but they still depend heavily on Mexican workers during the growing and harvesting procedures.
Anthony Cervini, owner of Lakeside Produce in Leamington, ON, is involved with governmental concerns such as worker issues. He said that Mexican workers generally stay in Canada for about six months, although their work permits allow them to stay for about eight months each year.
"The Mexican consulate office is needed to aid these people with the same issues that our own citizens have, but they arent able to communicate as easily," said Mr. Cervini. Mexican President Fox was in Ottawa in November and made the commitment at that time to open this office. We are happy to see that he has fulfilled his promise, and we know this office will be a valuable asset to workers in the future.
Mr. Cervini said that the consulate office is more of a division of the full-service Mexican consulate, which is located in Toronto. Its primary functions will be in worker issues.
The benefits of having this branch open extend beyond having the ability to service workers, said Mr. Cervini. The program builds unilateral relations between our two countries. These workers are well protected by both of our governments, and they have the same benefits that Canadian citizens are entitled to, including insurance and worker compensation.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers issued a statement Aug. 29 congratulating the government of Mexico on the opening of the consulate office, stating that both employers and employees in the Ontario greenhouse industry should welcome it.
In the statement, Glen Lutz, chairman of OGVG, said, The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers fully supports this initiative and looks forward to working with all labor supply countries to ensure the success of the Caribbean and Mexican seasonal agricultural worker programs.
The office, which is staffed by three people who are Mexican citizens, has been opened to assist the approximately 2,500 Mexican guestworkers who live and work in the area for periods of time throughout the year. These workers, and often the family members they bring with them to Canada, have typical and sometimes uniquely personal issues, concerns and problems that their Canadian employers, due primarily to language limitations, are not as apt to readily handle.
The Leamington area is known around the world today as having a world-class greenhouse vegetable and floral industry, second only to Holland. Growers and those associated with the greenhouse industry in the area utilize the latest technologies and advancements in their processes, but they still depend heavily on Mexican workers during the growing and harvesting procedures.
Anthony Cervini, owner of Lakeside Produce in Leamington, ON, is involved with governmental concerns such as worker issues. He said that Mexican workers generally stay in Canada for about six months, although their work permits allow them to stay for about eight months each year.
"The Mexican consulate office is needed to aid these people with the same issues that our own citizens have, but they arent able to communicate as easily," said Mr. Cervini. Mexican President Fox was in Ottawa in November and made the commitment at that time to open this office. We are happy to see that he has fulfilled his promise, and we know this office will be a valuable asset to workers in the future.
Mr. Cervini said that the consulate office is more of a division of the full-service Mexican consulate, which is located in Toronto. Its primary functions will be in worker issues.
The benefits of having this branch open extend beyond having the ability to service workers, said Mr. Cervini. The program builds unilateral relations between our two countries. These workers are well protected by both of our governments, and they have the same benefits that Canadian citizens are entitled to, including insurance and worker compensation.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers issued a statement Aug. 29 congratulating the government of Mexico on the opening of the consulate office, stating that both employers and employees in the Ontario greenhouse industry should welcome it.
In the statement, Glen Lutz, chairman of OGVG, said, The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers fully supports this initiative and looks forward to working with all labor supply countries to ensure the success of the Caribbean and Mexican seasonal agricultural worker programs.
