The Jamaicans who have been working at Rolland Farms in Ontario saw their jobs placed in jeopardy after green mould, infected the mushroom plants at the facility.

Yesterday Pearnel Charles, minister of labour and social security, said the jobs of the remaining Jamaicans were not certain.

Called back

Charles said a report from the Jamaican Liaison Service in Toronto, Canada, stated that the workers might be called back in April when the plant is expected to be free of the disease.

"The primary reason for their return to Jamaica, based on this report, is that the mushrooms were affected by a disease and that they were unable to treat it while in operation," said Charles.

The minister said the first batch of 23 workers opted to come home when their work hours had diminished, putting less than an average salary in their pockets.

Charles said briefings were held with the workers, while they were all in Canada, on the extent of the condition of the disease at the farm. Some chose to return home.

Mexicans, Canadians and Guate-malans have also lost their jobs because of the mushroom plant disease at the Canadian farm.

Close to 8,000 Jamaicans are employed under the Caribbean-Canada Agricultural Workers Programme.

The primary reason for their return to Jamaica, based on this report, is that the mushrooms were affected by a disease and that they were unable to treat it while in operation. - Charles