The government will be creating opportunities for more farmers to gain employment through the Farm Workers Program in Canada.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Israel Bruce, raised the issue during a consultation in Fitz Hughes on Thursday, February 5.

Minister Bruce said this is good news for those who have expressed interest in the Farm Workers Programme.

"What we have decided is that we need to revisit that programme, add new energy to that programme, and to seek to add new employment opportunities to that programme. And when Dr. Shallow comes back to talk to you about his next consultation, hopefully, all things being equal, we will be making brand new announcements to you of new job opportunities in Canada on the Farm Workers Programme. You are going to see a redesign of that programme, not only for the Canadian leg of it but also for the Saint Vincent leg of it."

The Agriculture Minister indicated that a special unit will be established to address matters concerning Farm Workers.

"We have received several indications from farmers that they often can't find people to go and work on their farms. Well hear me out, our current Daily Paid Worker Programme has almost six hundred (600) daily paid workers in the Ministry of Agriculture alone. So guess what, we intend to redesign that unit and call it the Farm Workers Unit. So that a farmer who wishes to have, let's say, five or six workers to work with him or her for the entire week can come to the Ministry of Agriculture, register, and pay for those workers for six days. You pay through the Ministry, the Ministry ensure that our daily paid workers you were sent to you are paid for the time that they have worked with you."

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)