Canadian employers and diaspora mobilise support for Jamaican farm workers affected by Melissa

Major relief efforts are under way in Canada to support Jamaican seasonal farm workers whose families and communities were severely affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Employers, diaspora groups, and civic organisations across Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada have launched collection drives combining household supplies with targeted financial aid for affected workers, confirmed the Jamaican Liaison Service, a Jamaican government entity.

“The people of Jamaica are strong, yet this moment demands all hands. The collective support from employers and citizens in Canada strengthens our national recovery and brings hope to families facing hardship," said Pearnel Charles, Jr, minister of labour and social security.

Colette Roberts Risden, Permanent Secretary of the Jamaica Central Labour Organisation, said, the outpouring of support from Canadian employers and the Jamaican diaspora "reinforces the strength of this longstanding programme". "When disaster strikes, that partnership becomes more than economic. It becomes personal," she added.

The Jamaica Central Labour Organisation is responsible for the Jamaica Overseas Employment Programme.

In the Medford-Clarksburg apple belt of Ontario, employers have co-launched a GoFundMe campaign to support 620 Jamaican farm workers deployed this year. The funds will help rebuild homes, replace essential items, and stabilise livelihoods.

Althea Riley, Chief Liaison Officer of JLS Toronto, said, “Our workers may be here in Canada, but their hearts are in Jamaica. This relief effort is our way of standing with them and ensuring their families feel supported as they rebuild.”

Relief supplies being collected include bottled water, non-perishable food, bedding, hygiene products, flashlights, batteries, rain gear, farming and household tools, solar lanterns, and generators. Many employers have also provided direct financial assistance.

Donations are being coordinated for shipment to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable households.

Hurricane Melissa devastated western Jamaica in late October, leaving dozens dead, more than 90,000 persons displaced, and widespread damage to homes, farms, and infrastructure.

The Jamaica–Canada Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme is approaching six decades of service, highlighting the interdependence between Canada’s agricultural sector and the resilience of Jamaican workers.

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