A total of 14,434 Jamaicans secured employment overseas in 2024 under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Overseas Employment Programme, with the majority contributing to Canada’s agricultural sector.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings, revealed that 8,255 workers—57 percent of the total—traveled to Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP). She shared the update during a send-off ceremony for 96 workers at the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Centre in Kingston on Friday, January 3.
Charging the departing workers to uphold Jamaica’s reputation, Jennings stated, “The only burden you bear in participating in this program is to ensure that you represent us well.”
A partnership for growth
State Minister Dr. Norman Dunn highlighted the significance of the SAWP, emphasizing the opportunity it provides for workers to achieve their personal goals while supporting their families.
“This program is an opportunity for the workers to realize their dreams and aspirations and to create a better quality of life for themselves and their families,” Dunn said.
He urged workers, especially first-timers, to maintain the high standards associated with Jamaican laborers.
“First-timers, you have the legacy to carry on. You have to continue to fly the name of Jamaican workers high because the Jamaican worker is known to be hard-working, disciplined, dedicated, committed to his task, and self-motivated. These qualities are not lost on the Canadian employer and so they continue to participate in this program, requesting persons to return year after year,” he added.
For nearly 60 years, the partnership between Jamaica and Canada under the SAWP has bolstered agricultural productivity in Canada while creating significant employment opportunities for Jamaicans.
Decline in program abandonment
While praising the program’s successes, officials have acknowledged challenges, particularly with workers abandoning contracts. Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. reported a decrease in the number of workers leaving the government’s farm work program in 2024, addressing concerns about rising incidents in previous years.
Data from the ministry shows that between 2018 and 2022, Jamaican workers accounted for 90.8 percent—or 2,597—of participants who ran off under the SAWP. This issue was most prevalent among new recruits who found that the program did not meet their expectations.
Efforts to address these concerns include emphasizing clear communication about the program’s requirements and providing support to workers.
