Dear editor:

Your Sept. 5 story, “Migrant Workers have unequal access to resources, volunteer group says,” is wrong in a few aspects.

The group, Justicia for Migrant Workers, demands that Doug Ford and his minister of labour allow workers to take breaks during hot weather and have access to first aid and to close farms during extreme weather.

First of all, when extreme weather happens, where are our liaison officers to be found so they can check up on various workers randomly to observe whether they are working or have the time off?

A few years back I saw roofers installing new shingles on one of our barns in very hot conditions. Where are the powers that be to get their boss to remove them from their job?

Turns out when speaking with the men they had their water bottles and did not require to be laid-off on the day.

The same would go for workers paving roads, etc. during extreme weather.

As for the heat experienced by our Jamaican farm workers, they laugh at me when I ask them if they want time off due to the heat.

They work amid fruit trees, where shade is available, or in the grape rows, where it also can be shady.

I agree there are times and conditions where migrant workers should not be outside, but give farmers some credit that we know when these times are.

Secondly, having a medical kit is part of their supplied inventory in their accommodations. Thirdly, are you actually suggesting we close our farms during extreme weather? That is a ridiculous blanket statement.

As for OHIP, there are steps in place if a migrant worker needs medical attention but does not have an OHIP card.

There are many, many Canadian citizens who are working under not-so-ideal conditions and are afraid to complain in case they get fired and then cannot get another job.

Remember, migrant farm workers sign a one-year contract and at the end of it they are free not to come back to the farmer they worked for, they can ask to be sent to another farm or they can stay in their country and work.

Nobody is forcing them to come here to work.

What is the agenda for all these articles anyway?

I am so tired of hearing blanket words about a fine agricultural industry, instead of the media doing proper research and talking about solutions and not just getting everyone upset about comments that often are full of untruths.

Susan Pohorly
NOTL