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A new non-profit organization has sprung up in the Okanagan! Red de Apoyo para Migrantes Agrícolas (RAMA), or Migrant Workers Support Network, is a grassroots, volunteer-run organization “whose broad aim is to support workers in the promotion of their well-being and security.” Over 1500 transnational agricultural labourers spend a significant amount of time in the Okanagan each year, and the creation of RAMA has been in response to a felt need among the foreign workers’ community for advocates and partners to come alongside them in their Canadian experience.
While the Mexican workers that make up the vast majority of transnationals employed here are able to earn a wage that is considerably higher than what they would make doing the same work in their home country, “There are many drawbacks to working in Canada's agricultural sector as a foreigner… First, migrant workers employed by the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) must have dependents, and it is preferred that they be married; however, they cannot bring their families… Second, migrant workers are not eligible to apply for permanent residency and are therefore not eligible for Canadian citizenship… Third, migrant workers' existence in Canada is one of incredible isolation, both culturally, linguistically, socially and geographically. Many migrant workers know nothing of the communities in which they live in Canada except the farm on which they work and the grocery store to which they are driven once per week. This leads to the fourth drawback, which is migrant workers' restricted mobility. Workers often live in very remote locations and those that do are entirely dependent on their employers to take them anywhere and everywhere. Fifth, and this has particular consequences for the Okanagan, the SAWP and LSPP have very little government oversight or regulation.” The nearest Mexican Embassy is in Vancouver, and it has little contact with workers in the Okanagan.
While temporary foreign workers, when they are in the country, are technically entitled to the same rights that Canadians have, the language, geographical, and cultural barriers they encounter often mean that these workers do not know what those rights are. The workers also tend to be very afraid to speak up if their rights are violated. Canadian employers are able to request workers back by name, as well as to say who they do not want back, and this means that anything that they feel may jeopardize their desirability as a worker – and therefore as a provider for their families – is something that the workers are not likely to mention.
The women who are heading up RAMA are Elise Hahn and Amy Cohen. Amy is fluent in Spanish, Elise is comfortable in French, and they are both native English-speakers, so the organization is able to communicate easily in all of the major languages that they expect to encounter.
RAMA “envisions a future in which migrant workers and their families are recognized as integral to the economies and communities of our region. We believe that no one is illegal and that migrant workers, regardless of documentation, should feel safe and be welcomed in the Okanagan as workers and in Canada as permanent residents and citizens.” Rama means “tree branch” in Spanish, and that is exactly what RAMA is: an olive branch of support and solidarity extended to migrant workers in our area. Will you reach out, too?
RAMA is actively looking for volunteers. You can contact them at hola@ramaokanagan.org
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