Agricultural Workers Support Centre goes mobile
To assist workers spread throughout southern Ontario, the Agricultural Workers Support Centre in Virgil has now gone mobile, helping local workers by appointment only.
The centre, on Niagara Stone Road, opened in 2004 through a partnership of the Agriculture Workers Alliance and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, with the goal of providing advocacy and support services for migrant workers.
It was open during the eightmonth agricultural work season, May to October, offering Englis-has-a-second-language classes, translation services, transportation to medical appointments and assistance navigating government paperwork and benefits.
“Things that might seem like simple tasks for Canadians can be very difficult for migrant workers, given the language barrier,” said Santiago Escobar, who co-ordinates the mobile program, as well as the lone remaining Agricultural Workers Support Centre in Leamington.
Earlier this year, he said, it was decided the Virgil centre would go mobile to allow the resources to be spread out to other communities as well. Now, workers can call a toll-free number to set up an appointment should they need to meet someone in person.
Much of the assistance, Escobar said, can be provided over the phone.
“We can direct people to the proper channels, send them documents, tell them where to find information, and answer most of their questions,” he said, adding there is also a WhatsApp group for workers. WhatsApp is a crossplatform messaging service.
“We’re still working with the workers and still providing referral services.”
Notice has been posted on the Virgil office’s window and Escobar said workers who were in the centre’s database were notified.
“We’re trying to provide service to as many areas as possible, some workers are set up out away from major city centres, so we’re trying to go to small towns, such as Fenwick and Woodstock to reach people where they are.”
In recent weeks, he said, mobile meetings have taken place in Whitby, Grimsby and Smithville.
“We want to use the tools and staff we have to reaching workers in many towns,” he said. “We had to redistribute the resources we have in order to do that. Now, we’re ready to go anywhere when we get a call.”
Workers needing assistance can call 1-877-778-7565. There are also toll-free numbers for those calling from Mexico (01-800-6811591) or Jamaica (1-877-344-3472).