Agricultural Job Case Study: Working Conditions
- British Columbia labor standards officials have uncovered meaningful labor violations at several Abbotsford-based farms, raising concerns about the treatment of migrant workers.
- A recent investigation by the British Columbia Office of Labor Standards has found that Sahota farms, Valley Select Foods, and Triple S Greenhouse – treated as a single...
- Investigators discovered instances where companies provided inaccurate information regarding the duration of employment, terminating contracts without adequate notice, sometimes months before their scheduled completion.
Canadian Farms Face Scrutiny over Treatment of migrant Workers
British Columbia labor standards officials have uncovered meaningful labor violations at several Abbotsford-based farms, raising concerns about the treatment of migrant workers.
examination Reveals Wage Theft and Misrepresentation
A recent investigation by the British Columbia Office of Labor Standards has found that Sahota farms, Valley Select Foods, and Triple S Greenhouse – treated as a single employer for the purposes of the investigation – engaged in multiple labor violations during the spring and summer of 2021. The probe revealed that workers were denied proper wages, overtime pay, and vacation compensation. Furthermore, the companies allegedly misrepresented employment details to the Canadian federal government.
Investigators discovered instances where companies provided inaccurate information regarding the duration of employment, terminating contracts without adequate notice, sometimes months before their scheduled completion. Some workers,like a Guatemalan worker identified as Ramírez,reported being compelled to work grueling shifts lasting 15 to 17 hours for consecutive days.
Company Responds, Workers Allege Neglect
Muller Ojeda, a human resources representative for Triple S Greenhouse, maintains that the company operates legally and independently from Sahota Farms and Valley Select Foods. Ojeda noted that Triple S Greenhouse passed a federal audit in June 2023.
“We acknowledge the decisions made by the Office of Labor standards and are currently conducting a thorough review of the findings. we reserve the right to appeal the decision,” Ojeda stated in an email.
Though, three affected workers who spoke with CBC News claim they were never contacted by the Canada Department of Services to discuss their experiences working in the Fraser Valley.
Dreams of a Better Life Dashed
Daniel Concha-Hernández, an agronomic engineer with a background in Chilean agriculture, sought a better life in Canada.
“I left my job [in chile] because I believed I would find a very good opportunity here, a better job, a better house, a better life,” he told CBC.
Concha-Hernández and his partner, Francisca Reyes, arrived in Canada in June 2021 with job offers from Sahota Farms. They quickly realized the reality did not match their expectations.
They were hired for quality control positions, which, according to labor standards, involved tasks such as classifying products by size and weight, using metal detectors and X-ray machines, preparing and applying cleaning chemicals, and reporting on the quantity and quality of processed fruit. Both possessed professional experience in this area.
However, their contracts and the Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) required by the federal government classified them as agricultural workers, focusing on tasks like weeding, pruning, watering, and harvesting. This distinction is significant because provincial law exempts employers from paying overtime or holiday pay to agricultural workers. Moreover, quality control positions typically command higher wages.
Reyes described their accommodation upon arrival as “horrible.”
The house was very dirty, in very bad condition. I remember my bed was dirty. The sheets were also dirty. It seemed that someone had already slept there before I arrived.
Reyes also reported that no instructions were given regarding waste separation. All garbage from their accommodation and a nearby house housing Mexican workers was deposited in a single container, which went unemptied for months, leading to a rat infestation.
“The smell was horrible,” she said.
Ojeda did not comment on the accommodation conditions but noted that Services Canada had conducted an audit.
That audit, initiated in November 2021, two months after Concha Hernández and Reyes were terminated, relied on inspection reports from the Western Agricultural Labor Initiative, representing employers, indicating that the housing met all criteria. However, these reports dated back to December 2020 and January 2021, months before the workers arrived.
Vague Housing Standards Criticized
Jenna Hennebry, a professor at the International Migration Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, argues that this situation is common because the federal government requires a housing inspection before approving the hiring of foreign workers, but lacks subsequent follow-up.
“Housing standards in the temporary foreign worker program are extremely vague. They say things like ’adequate,’ but there are no clear criteria. Overcrowding, dirt, lack of privacy, and security are the norm,” Hennebry stated.
Physical Toll of Overwork
Ramírez, from Guatemala, was 21 years old when she arrived in British Columbia in the spring of 2021 with a Triple S Greenhouse contract.
She was surprised to find that she would be sharing a room with 25 other women.the house lacked basic kitchen utensils, which she had to purchase herself.
The company claimed the number of occupants was below the provincial maximum. The labor standards investigation found no evidence that the employers had misrepresented the housing situation in her case.
Unlike Concha Hernández and Reyes, ramírez harvested fruit and beans, sorted damaged fruit, assembled boxes, and worked in frozen areas of the plant. She frequently enough performed both harvesting and processing tasks on the same day, resulting in extremely long workdays.
Ramírez reported working from 5 or 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily, and still had household chores to complete upon returning home. She consumed two or three energy drinks daily. One day, she collapsed and began foaming at the mouth.
My body no longer resisted because I didn’t eat well, because they didn’t give us time.
A coworker took her to the emergency room. Ramírez stated in her complaint that her employers told her the visit cost $700 and was not covered by insurance, requiring her to reimburse the money. As she did not provide a receipt, that amount was not included in her compensation.
Ojeda did not respond to questions about whether the company demanded reimbursement. Though, Hennebry stated that workers are legally entitled to medical insurance and should not be required to pay out-of-pocket.
ramírez left the farm in July 2021 with the assistance of Migrant dignity.
Calls for More Rigorous Oversight
The Canada Services audit, completed in June 2023, concluded that Sahota Farms fully complied with migratory regulations. The company head stated that the same complaints mentioned in the labor standards decision were reviewed and that the company complied with regulations regarding salaries, tasks, conditions, accommodation, and security.
He added that housing inspections and previous audits had always been passed without issue.
concha Hernández expressed disbelief at this conclusion, given that they were never interviewed.
Nobody from Service Canada called us, never. They say the conditions were good, but we know that is false.
It remains unclear whether anyone from the federal agency visited the farm during the inspection. ESDC declined to comment on compliance activities, citing privacy reasons.
Most of the 2,122 inspections conducted by the Canada Department of Services in 2023-24 were conducted off-site. Even in face-to-face inspections, employers were typically notified in advance (460 of 650).
Reyes believes that unannounced inspections would be more effective.
“go to the farm and check, do not send a letter first. Just present yourself and check if everything is fine for the workers, or in the houses,” she said.
Systemic Issues Enable Exploitation
The Office of Labor Standards, which did interview the workers, reached different conclusions a year and a half after the federal audit.
Concha Hernández, Reyes, and two Chilean colleagues did not meet the definition of “agricultural worker” and were therefore entitled to overtime pay, vacation pay, and holiday pay. While it was not found that employers directly lied to workers about tasks or salaries, they did use inaccurate descriptions to obtain federal permission.
Ojeda claimed that the descriptions used occupational classifications from 2019, which were updated in 2020.
Concluding that the companies misrepresented the duration of employment,the Office ordered them to pay Concha Hernández and reyes what they would have earned until January 2022. In Ramírez’s case, lacking a written contract, the duration of her employment could not be determined.
The companies were fined $500 for each of the six violations of the British Columbia employment Standards act.
Despite these violations, they remain eligible to hire foreign workers, according to the Ministry of Employment and Social Development, which will consider previous breaches in future evaluations.
Hennebry argues that this demonstrates a broken system.
The program is designed to bring people to work in temporary conditions, without the same access to the protection of their rights. This creates conditions of exploitation, abuse, and health risks that are not acceptable.
Amnesty International has also asserted that the program facilitates systematic abuse. A January 2025 report indicated that most workers lack access to effective resources to address abuses suffered.
Ramírez now works as a cleaner and has applied for refugee status. Concha Hernández works in gardening, while Reyes cares for their son, born in 2023. They both hope to remain in Canada.
Reyes stated that they want to share their story to inform other migrants about their rights.
“This time we leave that situation, but we also have to think about those who come later.”
Canadian Farms Face Scrutiny over Treatment of Migrant Workers
British Columbia labor standards officials have uncovered meaningful labor violations at several Abbotsford-based farms, raising concerns about the treatment of migrant workers.
Examination reveals Wage Theft and Misrepresentation
A recent investigation by the British Columbia Office of labor Standards has found that Sahota farms, Valley select Foods, and Triple S Greenhouse – treated as a single employer for the purposes of the investigation – engaged in multiple labor violations during the spring and summer of 2021. The probe revealed that workers were denied proper wages, overtime pay, and vacation compensation.furthermore, the companies allegedly misrepresented employment details to the Canadian federal government.
Investigators discovered instances where companies provided inaccurate information regarding the duration of employment, terminating contracts without adequate notice, sometimes months before their scheduled completion. Some workers, like a guatemalan worker identified as RamÃrez, reported being compelled to work grueling shifts lasting 15 to 17 hours for consecutive days.
Company Responds,Workers Allege neglect
Muller Ojeda,a human resources representative for Triple S Greenhouse,maintains that the company operates legally and independently from Sahota Farms and Valley Select Foods. Ojeda noted that Triple S Greenhouse passed a federal audit in June 2023.
“We acknowledge the decisions made by the Office of labor standards and are currently conducting a thorough review of the findings. We reserve the right to appeal the decision,” Ojeda stated in an email.
three affected workers who spoke with CBC News claim thay were never contacted by the Canada department of Services to discuss their experiences working in the Fraser Valley.
Dreams of a Better Life Dashed
Daniel Concha-Hernández, an agronomic engineer with a background in Chilean agriculture, sought a better life in Canada.
“I left my job [in chile] as I believed I woudl find a very good possibility here, a better job, a better house, a better life,” he told CBC.
Concha-Hernández and his partner, Francisca Reyes, arrived in Canada in June 2021 with job offers from Sahota Farms. They quickly realized the reality did not match their expectations.
They were hired for quality control positions, which, according to labor standards, involved tasks such as classifying products by size and weight, using metal detectors and X-ray machines, preparing and applying cleaning chemicals, and reporting on the quantity and quality of processed fruit. Both possessed professional experiance in this area.
However, their contracts and the Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) required by the federal government classified them as agricultural workers, focusing on tasks like weeding, pruning, watering, and harvesting. This distinction is notable because provincial law exempts employers from paying overtime or holiday pay to agricultural workers. Moreover, quality control positions typically command higher wages.
Reyes described their accommodation upon arrival as “horrible.”
The house was very dirty, in very bad condition. I remember my bed was dirty. The sheets were also dirty. It seemed that someone had already slept there before I arrived.
Reyes also reported that no instructions were given regarding waste separation. All garbage from their accommodation and a nearby house housing Mexican workers was deposited in a single container, which went unemptied for months, leading to a rat infestation.
“The smell was horrible,” she said.
Ojeda did not comment on the accommodation conditions but noted that Services Canada had conducted an audit.
That audit, initiated in November 2021, two months after Concha Hernández and Reyes were terminated, relied on inspection reports from the Western Agricultural Labor Initiative, representing employers, indicating that the housing met all criteria. However, these reports dated back to December 2020 and January 2021, months before the workers arrived.
Vague Housing Standards Criticized
Jenna Hennebry, a professor at the International Migration Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, argues that this situation is common because the federal government requires a housing inspection before approving the hiring of foreign workers, but lacks subsequent follow-up.
“Housing standards in the temporary foreign worker program are extremely vague. They say things like ‘adequate,’ but there are no clear criteria. Overcrowding, dirt, lack of privacy, and security are the norm,” Hennebry stated.
Physical Toll of Overwork
RamÃrez, from Guatemala, was 21 years old when she arrived in British Columbia in the spring of 2021 with a Triple S Greenhouse contract.
She was surprised to find that she would be sharing a room with 25 other women. The house lacked basic kitchen utensils, which she had to purchase herself.
The company claimed the number of occupants was below the provincial maximum. The labor standards investigation found no evidence that the employers had misrepresented the housing situation in her case.
Unlike Concha Hernández and reyes, ramirez harvested fruit and beans, sorted damaged fruit, assembled boxes, and worked in frozen areas of the plant. She frequently enough performed both harvesting and processing tasks on the same day, resulting in extremely long workdays.
RamÃrez reported working from 5 or 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily,and still had household chores to complete upon returning home. She consumed two or three energy drinks daily.One day, she collapsed and began foaming at the mouth.
My body no longer resisted because I didn’t eat well, because they didn’t give us time.
A coworker took her to the emergency room. RamÃrez stated in her complaint that her employers told her the visit cost $700 and was not covered by insurance, requiring her to reimburse the money.As she did not provide a receipt,that amount was not included in her compensation.
Ojeda did not respond to questions about whether the company demanded reimbursement. Though, Hennebry stated that workers are legally entitled to medical insurance and should not be required to pay out-of-pocket.
RamÃrez left the farm in July 2021 with the assistance of Migrant dignity.
Calls for More Rigorous Oversight
the Canada Services audit, completed in June 2023, concluded that Sahota Farms fully complied with migratory regulations. The company head stated that the same complaints mentioned in the labor standards decision were reviewed and that the company complied with regulations regarding salaries, tasks, conditions, accommodation, and security.
He added that housing inspections and previous audits had always been passed without issue.
Concha hernández expressed disbelief at this conclusion, given that they were never interviewed.
Nobody from Service Canada called us, never. They say the conditions were good, but we certainly know that is false.
It remains unclear whether anyone from the federal agency visited the farm during the inspection.ESDC declined to comment on compliance activities, citing privacy reasons.
Most of the 2,122 inspections conducted by the Canada Department of Services in 2023-24 were conducted off-site. Even in face-to-face inspections, employers were typically notified in advance (460 of 650).
Reyes believes that unannounced inspections would be more effective.
“Go to the farm and check, do not send a letter first. Just present yourself and check if everything is fine for the workers, or in the houses,” she said.
Systemic Issues Enable Exploitation
The Office of Labor standards, which did interview the workers, reached different conclusions a year and a half after the federal audit.
Concha Hernández, Reyes, and two Chilean colleagues did not meet the definition of “agricultural worker” and were thus entitled to overtime pay, vacation pay, and holiday pay. While it was not found that employers directly lied to workers about tasks or salaries, they did use inaccurate descriptions to obtain federal permission.
Ojeda claimed that the descriptions used occupational classifications from 2019, which were updated in 2020.
Concluding that the companies misrepresented the duration of employment, the Office ordered them to pay Concha Hernández and Reyes what they would have earned until January 2022. In RamÃrez’s case, lacking a written contract, the duration of her employment could not be resolute.
The companies were fined $500 for each of the six violations of the british columbia employment Standards act.
Despite these violations, they remain eligible to hire foreign workers, according to the Ministry of Employment and Social Development, which will consider previous breaches in future evaluations.
Hennebry argues that this demonstrates a broken system.
The program is designed to bring people to work in temporary conditions, without the same access to the protection of their rights. This creates conditions of exploitation, abuse, and health risks that are not acceptable.
Amnesty International has also asserted that the program facilitates systematic abuse. A January 2025 report indicated that most workers lack access to effective resources to address abuses suffered.
RamÃrez now works as a cleaner and has applied for refugee status. Concha Hernández works in gardening, while Reyes cares for their son, born in 2023. they both hope to remain in Canada.
Reyes stated that they want to share their story to inform other migrants about their rights.
“This time we leave that situation, but we also have to think about those who come later.”