Farm workers off to Canada as SAWP celebrates 60 years

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., delivers the keynote address at the launch of the Government of Jamaica’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (GOJ/SAWP) Scholarship, held on Tuesday (March 31) at the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Centre, on East Street in Kingston. Sixty scholarships will be awarded for the start of the 2026/2027 academic year, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the SAWP. (JIS Photo)

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April 2, 2026

Farm workers off to Canada as SAWP celebrates 60 years

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Nearly 300 farm workers departed for Canada on Wednesday, April 1, under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP).

This follows the departure of another 180 seasonal workers on Monday, March 30, which included a group of 31 bound for the United States.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr charged the Canada-bound men and women to remember that they are ambassadors of Jamaica, and their actions should reflect the same.

He was speaking at the launch of the Government of Jamaica’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (GOJ/SAWP) Scholarship on Tuesday, held at the ministry’s Overseas Employment Centre on East Street in downtown Kingston.

The scholarship programme, which was created as part of the observance of the SAWP’s 60th anniversary, will provide financial assistance to the dependents of farm workers.

“You are going up and many of whom you will interact with will only know Jamaica through your words and your actions. To them, Jamaica is you so if you are lazy, [they will say] ‘boy Jamaicans are lazy’ [and] if you work hard, ‘boy, Jamaicans work hard’,” Charles Jr said.

He also reminded them that the conduct and performance of each group will determine the programme’s future and whether others will have the chance to benefit from these opportunities.

The minister noted that the SAWP started in 1966, with 264 Jamaicans who paved the way to multiply the opportunity to more than 9,000 others.

“We want to firstly ask the Almighty to protect you and to guide you and cover you and to make sure that He gives you the right dose of patience and wisdom and understanding to know that you are not just representing yourselves but you are representing me as your minister. You are representing the country, your community, and your family,” Charles Jr said, encouraging the 285 farm workers who were gathered at the scholarship launch ceremony.

Meanwhile, the minister committed to using the lessons that have been learnt over the last 60 years of the SAWP to keep negotiating for the improvement of conditions that the farmers face on the programme.

He highlighted the long-standing partnership between Jamaica and Canada, noting that the high commissioner and his team “have continued to be our partners when we need them the most”.