| What Are the Housing Requirements? |
The Statement of Policy and Operating Guidelines and the Agreement for the Employment in Canada of Mexican and Commonwealth Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers, which determines the obligations and stipulations of employment between the Employer and the Worker state:
Section II, of the Employment Agreement stipulates the Employer agrees to: ‘Provide suitable accommodation to the Worker, without cost. Such accommodation must meet with the approval of the appropriate government authority responsible for health and living conditions in the province where the Worker is employed.
And further …… ‘Provide furnish cooking utensils, fuel and facilities. Employers are required to provide the necessary number of stoves and refrigerators in order that all workers may prepare their meals in a timely manner at the end of the work day. (The aforementioned section is condensed not verbatim) |
| Are Seasonal Housing Inspections Mandatory? |
| Yes! Annual season housing inspections must meet the standards set by the Ontario Ministry of Health on an annual basis. |
| How are Seasonal Housing Inspections Arranged? |
| The Employer is required to contact their local office of the Ministry of Health a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the arrival of seasonal agricultural workers to arrange a time for the inspection. |
| Do I Need to Send the Approved Seasonal Housing Report with the Order? |
| No! The Ministry of Health and F.A.R.M.S. communicate to each other electronically there is no purpose to send the housing inspection report unless requested to do so.
Admittedly Box ‘Seasonal Housing Approval’ on the application asks you to provide ‘proof of prior or current year attached’ housing however, the first order placed each year will be assessed and processed based on the housing approval from last year therefore this particular Box on the application can be ignored in Ontario.
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| How Does the Ministry of Health know an Order was Placed? |
| Upon receiving an order F.A.R.M.S. communicates to the health office of the order placed. The Health office takes this as notice the employer will be making contact to schedule a seasonal housing inspection |
| No Seasonal Housing Approval Obtained Last Season – Does this affect an order? |
| Yes! You may place the order however until the Ministry of Health provides to F.A.R.M.S. a confirmation of the approved inspection the order will be held. |
| Last Year Seasonal Housing was Approved and This Year the Number of Workers Requested will be Higher than What was Approved – Does This Make a Difference? |
| Yes! Where an employer requests a higher number of seasonal agricultural workers than last year the request for the additional number of workers will be held until the housing is arranged and the inspection is complete. It is suggested that two orders are placed, one to request the number of workers the housing was approved for last year. A second order for the number of workers that exceed the number of workers the housing was approved for. |
| Does Anyone from the Foreign Country Inspect the Seasonal Housing? |
| Yes! A further inspection by a Foreign Government Official will almost always happen either prior to or after the worker arrival. If any concerns arise at the time of their visit it is appropriate they are discussed with the employer. |
| Where can a Copy of the Housing Guidelines be Obtained? |
| A complete housing guideline is available on the F.A.R.M.S. website at www.farmsontario.ca or you may contact F.A.R.M.S. to request. Individual employers are responsible to make themselves aware of the guidelines and ensure any maintenance and repairs are completed. |
