FOLLOW UP: Advocate exposes mistreatment of migrant workers on Canadian farms & who’s responsible

[@beautifullyspirited]

We have to continue to tell the truth for those who are too afraid or can't speak up! What's done in the dark comes to the light!

[@AwoogaGamer]

I worked in a kitchen this past year making food for the migrant workers who were quarantined at a hotel. The distain that our kitchen manager had for these people was horrifying. She was cutting corners with dietary restrictions and said that these people didn't deserve the consideration. We had entire orders of pork breakfast sandwiches with the meat simply removed before being served to large groups of people who do not eat pork. They had no way of knowing their food was contaminated and the kitchen was so toxic and hostile I ended up getting fired for trying to speak up about these issues, among many others. You would think that Canadians would have a little more respect and care for the people who are providing the food we ALL eat. Thank you for shedding light on this exploitation, Canadians need to stop pretending we are above such atrocities.

[@cathyh2086]

Wow this is so sad. You would think they would have more respect. They are doing jobs that so many Canadians would never do, not respectful or kind at all 😢

[@Goodnewsgoodeats]

Doesn’t surprise me, all black people are treated the same. They have no respect for us.

[@nadiar.7788]

Contact W5 or The Fifth Estate so they can shine a BRIGHT light on this issue. You, also, need to be heard. This is disgusting and shameful.

[@natillefoxy9881]

Awww heart breaking 😭 Caribbean people shouldn't be still having this battle.

[@AwoogaGamer]

@@nadiar.7788 I don't have any proof other than my own witness account, they are a very manipulative corporation. It was at the Fionn MacCool's attached to the Marriott Hotel in downtown Windsor, Ontario.

[@HotHoneyAndSpice]

Wow. This is heartbreaking and sickening. Less than $2000 a month while working and living in despicable conditions??? This is madness. I will do whatever I can to help.

[@isabeltome9762]

I work for 2000 $ a month. I have to pay rent and bills. Is not right what they do to them. Or to us.

[@HotHoneyAndSpice]

@@isabeltome9762 they get less that $2000 a month, earn less than minimum wage and work up to 14 hours a day. If they were making minimum wage for the amount of hours they were working they would make $2000 in a week. We all deserve better but they at the very least need basic rights.

[@isabeltome9762]

@@HotHoneyAndSpice I make well above minimum wage . After taxes actually I get less than 2000 a month. And I have to spend 150 on metropass, pay for internet and phone. In order to work . I also have to buy uniform. I don't know your situation. But I know people paying 500 a month for a bed in a room with 4 beds. Skip meals and using public bathrooms to do sponge baths and brush their tees. They deserve better conditions. But actually they are demanding something that many Canadians don't have

[@isabeltome9762]

When was the lockdown. I worked overtime double shifts sometimes. I was taxed more than 2000. Is not worth to work. We just survive. And wait to die. The suicide assistance should be as well for people who can't afford to pay rent

[@moniquejess8495]

Its true because I'm a FARMWORKER

[@NikkiSoFar]

Thank you for your fantastic coverage! As a first generation Canadian I know when my European ancestors came to Canada to do farm work in the 1950s they could choose to leave the farm & were granted Permanent Residency when they arrived. I know my ancestors from the Caribbean didn’t get this kind of treatment - let’s treat farm workers like the important people they are! We must do better!!!

[@contemplatinggod2791]

I always respect people who speak up for the oppressed. Thank you for the fine work.

[@danielleclarke2804]

Thank you for covering this story! This is so important and so few Canadians know about the human rights violations that are taking place

[@tracytreyday]

Systematic slavery is something we need to realize is done right in front of our faces …. From 1966 to now in 2022 … thanks Brandon once again for sharing this content🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

[@cognitionup5211]

I know this is a fact. Seen it with my own eyes!!

[@cmartin5903]

Jamaicans you can make it back home, do not settle for less. If you are not being treated right, go back home. It's better we go and try again, we can do it. But the system needs to change for everyone. Let's get out of slavery. I think that we can all help our countries to be more self sustainable.

[@sharonlyons5836]

Thank you for bringing this situation more to light, please don't stop reporting on this matter. Things definitely need to change..

[@foreverfearon]

As I typed on your platform last night I am calling out for JUSTICE for ALL FARM WORKERS PAST AND PRESENT...The government needs to reimburse these workers the monies wrongfully taken from them in the form of E.I C.P.P etc. My husband is suffering from PTSD especially when it comes to winter after been forced many years to work in extremely cold weather conditions even when the MET office warn otherwise... He also suffer from conditions like passing out every now and again and this started from the farm when he had to spray dangerous chemicals without proper PPEs... He also said a farm with around 89 men would have 3-4 microwaves, lunch time on some farms are 30-45 mins, my husband said the workers are taken off work on the exact time of lunch, while they are taken to & from the bunkhouse their minutes are running, with 3-4 microwaves workers don't heat, eat and digest their foods properly, therefore many throw up after resuming work... I could go on and on but as I said...The farm workers and their families needs JUSTICE

[@canadajim]

Absolutely disgusting. I feel so sorry for these people. This is not what Canadians want. Our government are monsters.

[@Tracey-Nichole]

Yes Brandon! Blessings to you! I appreciate you covering this story! You are brave and we respect you for this!

[@kerryannfran6829]

Sometimes I feel like I have lost all hope in mankind. The evil that they show towards other humans is just overwhelming. These individuals are fueled by the devil himself.

[@Tourlou0409]

Thanks Brandon for reporting this!

[@natnathello]

THANK YOU THANK YOU!! LETS GO VIRAL WITH THIS CRAP! LETS NOT ACT LIKE like CANADA should NOT BE PUT ON BLAST!

[@pinklion26]

Something really needs to be done about this. It’s insane

[@4thaluvofeverything]

This is news reporting 🙌🏾 #TeamBG This is heartbreaking thank you for continuing to shed light on this harrowing atrocity 😩

[@resedvynemusic7097]

Thanks Brandon for highlighting this horrible issue

[@ubuntu2661]

Hi Brandon thank you for highlighting this evil that's being done to these migrant workers. Please post the link for the petition so we can share.

[@montifunlyrics2075]

We need help but one man can't do it 😫 😪

[@cognitionup5211]

Mr. Gonez get a list of all the farms in Ontario where migrants workers are employed. They are being taken advantage of in the most deplorable way imaginable; this is 2022 and what is happening is disgusting, disgraceful and inhumane.

[@azarbashir4429]

Thanks Brandon for what yu do. Excellent content

[@brownietart2110]

This is why I rate Brandon Gonez, amazing work 👏🏾 🙌🏾 🙏🏾..... these major news networks could never. shame on Canada and shame on the Canadian government from 1966 until now, it is a crime to be poor but trust mi God naw sleep. R.I.P. to all the migrant worker who die to help put food on our tables where they had none on their's

[@bloodeyezextraordinary]

Brandon you doing a very good job

[@deeblack3313]

God bless you for bringing this to our attention.

[@shavonethridge6583]

Thank you Brandon. This is inhumane please don’t stop reporting on this

[@vi9763]

What can we do? Who do we contact?

[@CharisMaggieTV]

This is definitely not new but glad to c it covered on this platform cuz this need crowd. And these are the same farms who talk about “locally grown” “handpicked” “grown with love” smh They forgot to add “with a dash of exploitation”

[@Tracey-Nichole]

SLAVERY Brandon, I’m wondering how can we get a response from the Jamaican government???!!!

[@smokescreenFromThe6ix]

The Jamaican government doesn't care because they get a kick back from Canada.

[@Tracey-Nichole]

@@smokescreenFromThe6ix this is so sad

[@nadiar.7788]

Please list these farms. Who and where are they?

[@montifunlyrics2075]

I am here in Canada, Kelowna BC and I had to work 3weeks before pay and when I did get paid it was short and it was not even me alone. 99% of the workers was shorten paid or didn't receive any till the othe week

[@raydouglas3549]

Can't be keeping this stuff quiet. What are the credentials these liaison officers have? Who advocates to ensure OHS guidelines and standards are upheld? Are they experts and display good understanding of labour laws and OHS laws? Are they trained on workplace safety and ensure basic PPE?

[@pure1239]

Injustice will not go unnoticed .......only for a time .

[@jasmined575]

This was a very powerful segment. Really good information. So disappointing to hear what is going on, and what these workers were told by their own minister. Change is needed. This exploitation needs to stop.

[@mollyweir9350]

This is not new story. This has been hapoening since the beginning of time. We as people need to understand where our food comes from& who is making sure we have food to eat. When we attached a sense of humanity to the basic needs then maybe we will start denanding more from those who are decision makers. I am saying this a child of a former migrant farmer who missed over 10 yrs of parenting from said father. As a result, there as been a lack of bonding & any true relationship with him b/ c by the time I saw him b/c he choose to run away from the farm & stay iliegal here I was already an adult.

[@millicentthomas870]

This is crazy how people( our) people are treated that's working so hard.oh my God

[@marciabowers7792]

Thank You for covering this story, my Uncle use to do Farm Work. He worked long hours, back breaking work for little pay. He could have family visit once every two months for a limited time and he was not aloud to leave the farm.

[@user-ij5lw8ww4c]

Completely enraged!

[@elizabethpreville5655]

I always thinking to apply making me change my mind we may live pool in our country and that condition

[@milaarez2012]

Unfortunately I do not see Canadian care for the workers in farms, Canadians can care less

[@petalthompson2302]

I was in this situation In novia Scotia I had first hand of exactly what they're talking about and there's absolutely no lies to these stories I have lived it but God has been good to me I manage to get myself out of it in one piece 🙏I hope the girls get some help.

[@KyngCeejay]

Thanks for bringing the many struggles and hardship migrants face to light

[@ab-xg8li]

i hope the government fix it ,what a shame.

[@real8551]

So where are the liaison officers that the countries send to Canada from the source countries. They are paid well, provided a free home and car here in Canada to look after the migrant workers and advocate for them. This is not only the responsibility of Canada but the source countries are not doing their do diligence to ensure that the farmers are well taken care of. What are these government workers being paid for .

[@mollyweir9350]

They are working to line their own pockets. Did you hear what the guest said about Jamaica's minister of Labour Karl Samuda? He pretty much tell his fellow Jamaican brothers to shut up & work.

[@real8551]

@@mollyweir9350 that’s sad and unacceptable. They need to be held just as responsible as the owners of the farms

[@mollyweir9350]

@@real8551 yes. But they don't care. Jamaica have one of the most fertile lands in the western hemisphere but yet still import food to eat by the $millions . Why not use these farmers & the young to develop the land, feed your people & export the rest starting w/ the Caribbean countries?

[@raydouglas3549]

Can't be keeping this stuff quiet. What are the credentials these liaison officers have? Who advocates to ensure OHS guidelines and standards are upheld? Are they experts and display good understanding of labour laws and OHS laws? Are they trained on workplace safety and ensure basic PPE?

[@ctcamara]

This is so sad.... 😞

[@MsVictoria4ever]

Before all this Canada would have children from English poor families shipped here to be farm hands. Many were treated terribly. Look up the British Home Children.

[@raydouglas3549]

Then later they had indigenous ppl children to literally work to death. Very few Jamaicans know these things.

[@marieclarkewalker1032]

We must stand up for all workers. Informal workers need even more protections. Migrant workers must be protected by both the sending and receiving countries and should have the same benefits as other workers in Canada. Anything less is the equivalent to modern day slavery. We must do everything to protect the people who care for us in many ways. Racism, discrimination and inequities should not be part of the world of work. All migrant workers must have a path to permanent citizenship, fairness and proper living conditions.

[@WIDFRANKE]

Very informative 👏👍

[@danstar177]

Jamaicans get bad treatment in British Columbia Canada too. i been through it.

[@cathyh2086]

I’ve seen one of the housing and it is horrible. They cannot speak up in most cases because they may be sent home. It’s a horrible system.

[@cathyh2086]

@@Joe-by8jh it depends on the persons situation at home, I know the one I saw was very dirty and hot. I don’t expect it has to be fancy but decent living space for sure.

[@silverchuks]

Is this problem general across Canadian farms?

[@lindaward3156]

I've heard all my life how nice Canadians are and believed it ((I live in MA). it's not abuse, it's slavery. i realize getting paid might not fit the slavery definition but everything else does, how horrific. do better Canada!

[@sadiewagstaff890]

Slavery is abuse.

[@MegaCAMERON68]

Thanks for video....

[@moniquejess8495]

We need more because we're not slave Bob Marley said free yourself from mental slavery wake up people

[@kellywills5852]

It's always been an extension of the slave trade. They changed the definition of slavery in the English language to allow for slavery to continue. Now as long as a slave receives money they are called an employee.

[@nicolaihilckmann4677]

I know one guy that is currently working at a farm in BC. Guy got really sick and went to the hospital and that's when he discovered that his boss didn't take out health insurance for his workers. Poor guy had to pay the equivalent of 3 months pay out of pocket.

[@Goodnewsgoodeats]

You need help to grow your business and you got willing bodies and this is how you treat them? Ungrateful, boycott these farms!

[@hunter5369]

Look into the construction industry, the home renovation after fire or floods, and now landscaping , a lot of illegal immigrants in that industry that get low pay and a lot of abuse and some get sent back to their countries and their employers don't pay them, home builders and contractors know about and they are making a lot of money from this people because they save money on the wages

[@liztops1761]

This is disgusting

[@catregime]

Keep it coming!!!

[@sachamorharriott8931]

Its sad to say but as a jamaican our government don't give a two rats about what happen to these workers ok, the only time they will act as if they care is only when someone died and it on the news. Don't think they don't already know the mistreatment that these workers are enduring

[@liztops1761]

Wow just wow

[@ManuelaPatzel]

I buy local, thinking I support good farmers. I am disappointed to say the least. Sickening, farmers are employing these people, they should have to tread them as such. Pay them a fair amount, tread them well. Why am I buying local to support these farmers, they sure complain a lot if they don’t get what they want. Feeding the country, and abusing their workers. Not ok.

[@willberry8673]

Deep

[@rickytrooper]

Seems like it's only Jamaicans they put in these horrible conditions

[@Kristoph-69-69]

Its that Canadian Racism

[@angelinaasamoah8473]

How can I get Hassan's contact???

[@ashannielinton3209]

Slave Master Dem ago pay bitterly fire lighting thunder .

[@TheLiline514]

That is modern day slavery jeeeezzzz

[@destinysavary1233]

Expose them one of brothers died and they tried to cover it up

[@AILAM43]

Am I really the 1st on here. Whoa

[@StanClarke]

Better laws need to be implemented to better safeguard against employer abuse! The granting of permanent status to all isn't realistic, it's not something you just hand out like that, and this guy seems somewhat smart enough to know this. If you grant status to everyone, then there won't be a point to the program in the first place, as well as our immigration system will be easily exploited! This program has helped persons in their respective countries, so get to work on getting the farmers on board or red flag them severely if they fail to cease from exploiting these workers.

[@mollyweir9350]

There are many oeople working on these farms that deserve the right to permanency when compared to another entry of permanency that have been expkoited by the 1,000 daily. The 57 Jamaican yr old that died 2 wks ago was coming here for 35 yrs to the same employer if he was that great for them why didn't they help him to get oermanency for him & his children? You see many of the owners& decision makers including the sending & receiving know that a pathway to permanency will cripple their bottom line. The reality is especially in Jamaica b/c I am from there the new generation are becoming more informed & realize that not all that is glitter is gold. They are farming their own land, developing new technologies & mobilizing to get new new thinkers to lead the country so they won' t have to leave their country.

[@laurenyoung466]

"Our immigration system" Who is our? Talk to me, because you dearest with the last name Clarke, is an immigrant too, or the product of one.

[@BT-ch9gf]

Sounds like modern day slavery.

[@MiaH79]

Wow. That was a lot to digest.

[@kekewilliams8049]

How can we help

[@DancingSoldiersOfRa]

Farm workers deserve and need a union, the Con govt won't do anything for anyone but the rich.

[@JCLauzontv]

Caribbeaners put up with this. Other migrant workers wouldn’t. Speak up!

[@mrlwiseman2900]

Its modern-day slavery. Lets be honest Canadian ppl want fruits, vegetables but don't want ro work on the farm fields

[@nicolaihilckmann4677]

I've worked on farms for decades and white people were pushed out of the industry

[@Ghettoroyalty212]

not only farms. Factories use and abuse migrant workers as well. racialized immigrants in this country are treated usually the ones taken advantage of.

[@Joey_Lance]

Very informative thank you guys for bringing light to this.

[@TheRJRabbit23]

They need to pass a bill at the Ontario legislature

[@user-wg8eb6jz9s]

😅

[@TheRJRabbit23]

Yeah he’s right

[@jackgriffith9229]

Of course working 89 days 14 hours per day is awful! Those people should not have come to America illegally and they would not have been exploited by some abusive people. Obeying the law is a very good thing.

[@elfredawright]

@Jack Griffith, Farm workers in Canada ARE NOT ILLEGAL. They came into the country as LEGAL TEMPORARY WORKERS! Get the FACTS before you comment.

[@jackgriffith9229]

@@elfredawright Did I mention Canada 🇨🇦? Who goes to Canada 🇨🇦? Haven’t they heard about WINTER 🥶 in Canada? Go ahead tell me I’m wrong!

[@Adrenalean767]

@@jackgriffith9229 you're wrong

[@jackgriffith9229]

@@Adrenalean767 It is entirely possible that I am completely wrong as I only have my opinion and I don’t have ANY FACTS WHATSOEVER! So you could be correct!!

[@TheRJRabbit23]

Working 90 days straight that’s insanity

[@Whyinem]

Very very sad

[@user-wg8eb6jz9s]

😂

[@nicoleanastacio1127]

Status for all

[@rere5223]

Legaly you can work 14 hours a day 21 days straight with 4 days off. The fact these people are coming during harvest season what do they expect it's a limited work season and the work needs to get done. Make your money and go home.

[@damarioroberts3563]

I just hope this is not a race hustle

[@ahuramazda323]

I know I'm going to get negative feedback for this, but why are only the Jamaican workers complaining? I have relatives going there for years who have never complained about these conditions. In fact they go back every year because they make more money than they would at home working an entire year. They have to understand that the work is seasonal and the crops have to be harvested and planted within a short time period. Long hours are a given but the workers get the extra pay.

[@bryanmarcellin2544]

They need to take the Jamaica government to court and we Caribbean people in the diaspora need to stand up againt this slavery tactics used by the governments in the name of better jobs when they can take Canadian government and its farm owners to task for exploitation its all political we need to fight the government and protest demand change