Canada’s pork industry is becoming more reliant on temporary farm workers to keep up with demand.
According to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) SWINE Labour market information and forecast 2023-2030, foreign workers will make up nearly 25 per cent of the pork industry workforce by 2030.
Ontario Pork Congress international workers committee chairman Abel Lopez says the pork industry, like many areas of agriculture, is struggling to find enough on-farm workers and is increasingly relying on temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to meet its labour needs.
The CAHRC report notes that the industry is facing a labour shortage due to high vacancy rates and significant turn over compared to other animal production industries.
Overall, more than 60,000 TFWs are employed in Canadian agriculture each year, helping fill critical labour shortages across the sector. According to Statistics Canada, 43 per cent come from Mexico, 26 per cent from Guatemala and 12 per cent from Jamaica. As demand for agricultural workers continues to grow, more employees are also arriving from countries such as the Philippines, many of whom have found a place within the pork industry.
The contributions of TFWs were recognized recently at the Ontario Pork Congress International Farm Workers Educational Event, which welcomed nearly 200 workers to learn more about programs and services offered by the organization. The event highlights the important role international workers play in the industry’s growth and success while providing opportunities to learn more about Canadian agriculture.
Participants were also given the chance to tour the show floor and learn about the industry they play a key role in fueling.
“Bringing people from outside the country has been a very good tool for them to get enough workforce,” said Lopez, adding that Canada continues to have some of the strictest regulations governing access to these jobs.
Lopez explained that there are education and experience requirements for those seeking employment as TFWs in Canada, including a strong understanding of English. He added that the program works with job seekers to help them develop these skills.
Worker needs
As the program continues to build on its decades-long success, Lopez said farmers have become a driving force in supporting workers’ needs.
He added that previous workers have also become strong mentors for the new generation, helping them find their footing in a new country.
“They’re always supporting the new guys coming in,” Lopez said, noting many workers who come to Canada do so based on recommendations from previous participants in the program.
“As time goes by, they support each other a little bit better, and we still get involved,” he said.
Lopez said the program helps new workers establish bank accounts, access health care and mental health services, and obtain translation assistance.
He added that a strong effort has also been made to create recreational opportunities for participants, including soccer and baseball games. Every effort is made to help newcomers feel they are part of Canadian culture during their time here.
Labour gap remains
Currently, the federal government caps annual entries at between 60,000 and 82,000 workers, down from previous years. Lopez noted some workers are reluctant to make the journey north because the process of entering Canada can be challenging.
“The government could make it a little bit easier for the farmer to get the help because they [TFWs] feel treated as a criminal,” he said.
As a result, Lopez said there remains a gap between the current labour supply and the needs of Canadian farmers.
“From what I hear from farmers, they could use more help,” Lopez said. “From what we see out there, there needs to be more.”
Support from farmers and organizations such as the Ontario Pork Congress helps ensure agricultural labour needs are met, he added.
“Ontario Pork Congress has been super supportive. They’re putting financial and physical efforts into trying to welcome the international workers and make them feel respected and appreciated.”
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