Migrant and Temporary
Agricultural Workers

How does OHCOW help Temporary Foreign Workers and their Employers?

Providing resources and education on labour laws and worker safety
Distributing materials such as informative posters, guides and other print materials
Providing translation services
Consultation and research into improving the lives of migrant workers at their jobs

EMPLOYER AND WORKER RESOURCES

Posters, Webinars, Infographics and more

Medical Clinic Resources for Migrant and Temporary Agricultural Workers in Ontario

Foreign workers have options when they need to obtain medical services. Check out our interactive map with links to information about clinics in specific regions of the province. Included is contact information and addresses and other useful links.

Go To Clinics Page

Introduction

Every year thousands of temporary foreign agricultural workers come to Canada to work in the agriculture industry – including 20,000 arriving in Ontario to work on farms and in greenhouses. These workers play a vital role in the industry, and therefore, in Ontario’s economy.

The Provincial Expert Advisory Panel on Occupational Health and Safety, and subsequently, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL), have identified this labour force as a group who face barriers in accessing effective occupational health and safety resources and support.

As migrant farm workers spend the majority of their time at work, and farm work can be physically demanding, involving a variety of hazards, an occupational health and safety focus is particularly important for supporting the health of this population.

Since 2006 we have offered our services to migrant farm workers, their employers and community partners with the aim to continue to become valued partners in agricultural and horticultural occupational health and safety.

Regions we Serve

Every season we connect and work with more and more Ontario growers, with farms in: Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Niagara Regions, Brant County, Lambton County

We support them in addressing the challenges of working with a diverse workforce. Part of OHCOW’s role is to ensure that occupational health and safety guidelines and programs are understood and effective in the form of Workshops, video and literary resources, enforcing strategies and best practices through health and safety programs, consultation services and translation services.

OHCOW RESOURCE

WEBINAR

Community & Workplace Psychosocial Support for the Mental Health of IAW in Ontario

May 22, 2022

A presentation made as part of the 2022 MayDay, MayDay Webinar Series: Workplace Mental Health Interventions and Other Solutions. Presenters: Eduardo Huesca, Community Program and Outreach Coordinator and Leonor Cedillo, Research Lead, OMAFRA Project, OHCOW

OHCOW RESOURCE

WEBINAR

International Agricultural Worker Health and Safety Workshop

Day of Mourning 2021

A 90 minute presentation on the effect of Covid-19 on Farmworkers, including the Deputy Chief Coroner’s Review: COVID-19 Related Deaths of Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers in 2020, Health and Safety in the Time of COVID-19 – What Does It Mean for International Agricultural Workers? and more.

Workers’ Rights Apply to Temporary Foreign Workers

Migrant and Foreign workers are covered by the same laws as anyone working in Ontario, and employers of temporary workers have the same responsibility to provide a safe work environment. This is important because foreign workers may not know their rights. For instance, a worker can refuse unsafe work at any time and cannot be fired from their job for doing so. If a worker is injured or becomes ill due to an incident or conditions at their job, they are entitled to compensation.

OHCOW RESOURCE

CONFERENCE VIDEOS

Work, Migration and Health Forum: Precarity, Vulnerability, Health and Safety Among Newcomers and Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

2018

A selection of 18 20-30 minute videos on topics such as Health and Social Services, Advocacy, Policy, recommendations for change, presented by expert speakers.

Building a Positive Health and Safety Culture for Migrant Workers

Migrant workers perform strenuous and sometimes hazardous physical work. There are mental health challenges to the job as well. Migrant workers are removed from their families and society and are in a foreign environment with a different culture and language. OHCOW offers an inventory of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing resources and services. These are available to Latinx and Caribbean International Agricultural Workers (IAWs) in Ontario, created from research that involved a scoping review of scientific literature, structured interviews with IAWs and other stakeholders, including community groups, employers, employers’ associations, primary health care clinics.

These resources include those developed by NIOSH, CAL OSHA, the US National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH), among others.

OHCOW RESOURCE

REPORT

Mental Health and Psychosocial Supports for International Agricultural Workers in Ontario: A report prepared by OHCOW for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

April 2022

A report on a project to create an inventory of available mental health and psychosocial wellbeing supports and services available to Latinx and Caribbean International Agricultural Workers (IAWs) in Ontario, and to distribute findings to these workers.

Use the below form if you have a question for an OHCOW Temporary Foreign Worker Representative.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page! Check back later as we will be adding more information and resources.

Infographic

Available in three languages, this 2-page infographic covers eye safety for agricultural workers.

Download PDF

Using Disposable Respirators

Infographics on the proper and safe use of disposable respirators.

Download PDFs

Resources for Temporary Foreign Workers & Employers

Webinars, Video Series, PDFs, Infographics, Posters, Reports and more…

All
2018
2021
2022
2023
Advocacy
Agriculture
air filters
Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
Awareness / Empowerment
Best Practices
Bullying
Calling 911
Cold101
Communication
Community
Control Methods
Coroner Reports
COVID (MFW)
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Response
Employer Responsibilities
Ergonomics
Eyes
First Aid
frosbite
Greenhouses
Heat
Heat Stress
Heat-related Illnesses
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Legislation
Masks / Respirators
Mental Health
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Outreach
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Pesticides
Policies / Procedures
Prevention
Programs / Resources
Rights / Responsibilities
Sexual Health
Social Services
Support Services
Training
Transmission / Exposure Control
Wildfire Smoke
Work Refusal

A snapshot of the OHCOW Heat Stress for Outdoor Workers infographic

Heat Stress – A Serious Hazard for Outdoor Workers

JUNE 2023 • A four page infographic covering the signs and symptoms of heat stress in outdoor workers as well as ideas for action, and tips for prevention when working outdoors.

Migrant and Temporary Agricultural Workers

How does OHCOW help Temporary Foreign Workers and their Employers?

Medical Clinic Resources for Migrant and Temporary Agricultural Workers in Ontario

Introduction

Regions we Serve

Community & Workplace Psychosocial Support for the Mental Health of IAW in Ontario

International Agricultural Worker Health and Safety Workshop

Day of Mourning 2021

Workers’ Rights Apply to Temporary Foreign Workers

Work, Migration and Health Forum: Precarity, Vulnerability, Health and Safety Among Newcomers and Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

Building a Positive Health and Safety Culture for Migrant Workers

Mental Health and Psychosocial Supports for International Agricultural Workers in Ontario: A report prepared by OHCOW for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

Selected Resources

NEW INFOGRAPHICS

Stay Hydrated in the Heat

Heat Stress – A Serious Hazard for Outdoor Workers

Heat Stress – A Year Round Concern in Greenhouses

Wildfire Smoke – A Definite Concern for All [Ontario] Workers

Wallet Cards

Prevention Poster

Hazards Poster

Working With Pesticides

Posters

Workers’ Rights

Prevention Poster

Using Disposable Respirators

Handout Flyer

Ergonomics Booklet

Infographic

Using Disposable Respirators

Resources for Temporary Foreign Workers & Employers

FOR EMPLOYERS

Heightened COVID-19 Risks to Temporary Foreign (Migrant) Agricultural Workers (TFAWs) and Recommended Actions in the 2020 Agricultural Season Occupational Medicine

Recommendations for Overcoming Health Challenges Faced By Migrant Agricultural Workers during the COVID-19-Virus Pandemic

Health and Safety Guides and Toolkits

Improving Confidence and Building Culture

Effectively Communicating Health and Safety

EVENT RESOURCES

Migrant and Temporary
Agricultural Workers