A warning has been issued by the travel agency that overseas Mexican workers coming to Canada.
Mi Tierra travel agency sent out a note to inform growers of a delay in issuing work permits(visas) for Mexican workers. The delay is caused by changes in the way work permits are released from the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City to the Mexican Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS by its name in Spanish).
In past, this process has been very efficient and because it worked so well, growers were probably unaware of how work permits are issued. Now, due to the changes, delays are being encountered as everyone adjusts to the new processes.
Glen Lucas, General Manager for BC Fruit Growers Association recommends applying early. "Growers need to apply 3 months in advance because it's such a process in getting approval." Lucas says each year the Okanagan will get 2500 workers from Mexico and 1000 from the Carribean, mostly Jamaican.
The topic of lodgings for immigrant workers is always of interest in the Okanagan.
Lucas says inspection procedures have been improving for the past few years but he also urges, if something needs to be repaired do it quickly to avoid another reason for delay. "We're making steps in the right direction every year." "Probably the new standard will be those ATCO type trailers, work camp trailers. Over time we'll probably see some of those older Picker cabins renewed for ATCO type trailers."