Join us in the #puttingraceonthetable Digital Day of Action for migrant workers' rights organized by Harvesting Freedom/Justicia 4 Migrant Workers & Cater Toronto. Official Statement below.
Fireweed Food Coop stands in solidarity with migrant workers who are demanding that worker and migrant justice be a priority of the COVID-19 response and recovery.
Migrant workers are the backbone of our food system, making up over half of Canada’s paid agricultural workforce, yet due to the precarious nature of their immigration status, are not afforded healthcare, safe work environments, income support, and basic rights.
This reality has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fearful of deportation, many migrant workers are unable to refuse work or receive paid sick leave and are not provided with adequate protective gear. As a result, they are much more vulnerable to contracting the virus and spreading it amongst their communities, yet are still denied basic healthcare. Unfortunately, it is no wonder that the agriculture and food processing sector has experienced some of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks. This exploitation must end now.
We, along with many others, call on the federal, provincial and municipal leaders to immediately grant migrant and non-status people 1) Permanent residence status; 2) Access to free, universal and expanded healthcare; 3) Equal workers protection; 4) Increased funding to expand essential services; 5) And ensure that migrants are included in the planning and implementation of a meaningful COVID-19 response.
Take Action Now:
Join the #puttingraceonthetable Digital Day of Action on September 7: https://harvestingfreedom.org/2020/08/19/join-us-in-puttingraceonthetable/
Sign the petition for migrant #statusforall : https://migrantrights.ca/covid19/
Learn more about the migrant worker justice movement in Canada: https://harvestingfreedom.org/resources/
And in Winnipeg: https://www.mwsn.ca/