JN Money offers short-term loans to Jamaican farmworkers in Canada
Key Points(5)
- JN Money is offering a short-term loan facility to Jamaican seasonal farmworkers in Canada to help them meet financial obligations in Jamaica before their regular earnings begin.
- The facility is designed to provide workers with access to funds at the start of the agricultural season, when they may have arrived in Canada and started working but have not yet earned enough to cover immediate expenses at home.
- For Linton Pearson, a Portmore, St Catherine, resident who has participated in Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme for 26 years, the facility has helped him manage expenses during the early part of the farming season.
- Pearson works from April to November on a vegetable farm in Simcoe, Ontario, alongside nearly 60 other workers, about 45 of whom are Jamaicans.
- The more than 100-acre farm produces crops including Chinese cabbage, radishes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and Chinese melons.
JN Money is offering a short-term loan facility to Jamaican seasonal farmworkers in Canada to help them meet financial obligations in Jamaica before their regular earnings begin.
The facility is designed to provide workers with access to funds at the start of the agricultural season, when they may have arrived in Canada and started working but have not yet earned enough to cover immediate expenses at home.
For Linton Pearson, a Portmore, St Catherine, resident who has participated in Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme for 26 years, the facility has helped him manage expenses during the early part of the farming season.
Pearson works from April to November on a vegetable farm in Simcoe, Ontario, alongside nearly 60 other workers, about 45 of whom are Jamaicans. The more than 100-acre farm produces crops including Chinese cabbage, radishes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and Chinese melons.
Pearson said the nature of seasonal farm work means his income can vary, with some periods requiring seven days of work each week and others involving reduced hours.
He has accessed the JN Money loan facility four times to help cover immediate financial needs before his regular earnings become available.
“When we just came up, [money was] not available. So, it comes in handy at that time,” he said.
Claude Thompson, regional manager at JN Money, said the facility was developed to address the financial challenges faced by seasonal farmworkers who have obligations in Jamaica while working abroad.
“The beginning of the farming season is often challenging for them as they are settling into work in Canada while at the same time, they have important financial commitments to meet back home,” Thompson said.
“This loan facility provides that timely bridge when funds may be limited, giving workers greater flexibility to address urgent needs while they wait for their salary,” he added.
Pearson, who has been married for 30 years and has five children, including two stepchildren, said his earnings from the programme have helped him support his family, build his home and make improvements to the property over the years.
He has also maintained a longstanding relationship with JN Money, using its remittance service to send money to Jamaica while working in Canada.
Pearson first joined the farmworker programme after being introduced to the opportunity by his sister's boss. He said succeeding in the programme requires discipline and a willingness to work hard.
“It's not an easy work. You have to have manners and discipline, because that's what the boss is looking for,” he said. “Not everyone is willing to work as hard as is required and find it hard to keep up, but with a mind to work and teamwork effort, we can all achieve.”
Outside the agricultural season, Pearson uses his skills in cabinet-making and furniture construction to earn an income when he returns to Jamaica.
