On April 12, Radio-Canada published an article concerning owners of vegetable farms who denounce the administrative burden of the compulsory procedures they must take with the Office québécois de la langue française to Frenchify their foreign workforce. The main argument of these producer-employers is that the temporary Latin American workers they hire “have no intention of staying in Quebec and learning French.” These two statements prove to be shortcuts that sow disinformation and require nuance.
The reality about access to permanent residence
First, if workers do not intend to stay in Quebec, it is quite simply because current migration policies make this project unrealizable! The eligibility criteria for Quebec selection do not correspond to the profile and background of these workers, which automatically excludes them from the federal permanent residence application. As early as 2012, the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights described this obstacle as a contributing factor to systemic discrimination against these temporary foreign workers. The situation has changed little since then.
What do the main stakeholders really think? A survey conducted among 200 agricultural workers in 2022 by the Research Chair on Global Migration Dynamics at Laval University reveals that 92% of the participants surveyed would consider applying for permanent residence if it were accessible to them. It is mainly to reunite with their families that workers wish to return home at the end of their contract.
Francization, a necessity among workers
Knowledge of French for temporary workers in Quebec is not an option. It is essential in terms of health and safety at work, while promoting good communication between workers and their superiors, for healthy working relationships. Having a common working language is recognized as an important factor in preventing accidents, which are unfortunately all too common in agriculture. Workers also need French to fully understand instructions regarding the safe use of pesticides or machinery.
This knowledge is also essential for the use of public services, access to health services in the event of a work accident and integration into host communities. Although the stays of these foreign workers are seasonal, many come to work in Quebec throughout their adult lives. It is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity for them to master the basics of the French language.
Moreover, it is wrong to think that the implementation of francization initiatives is unrealistic and unsuitable for agricultural realities. The agricultural workforce sector committee AGRIcarrières set up in 2019 a francization program designed specifically for migrant agricultural workers, AgriFrancisation. In an article by Marika Wheeler (September 14, 2023), Radio-Canada indicated that 555 workers have benefited from this program since its creation.
The Support Network for Migrant Agricultural Workers (RATTMAQ) notes, for its part, a real desire for learning among workers. Since 2022, it has been offering French workshops to migrant workers from Île d’Orléans, which attract many participants despite the obstacles that such participation represents. In 2023, more than a hundred participants were able to attend the workshops. Other migrant workers from across the province regularly inquire with the RATTMAQ team about how to register for French courses. The desire to learn is present among these workers.
Full members of Quebec society
It is urgent to open up opportunities for francization for all temporary foreign workers and for workplaces to facilitate this access. Let us remember that these people do not live locked up on farms and that they need to communicate, just like the rest of the population. Workers want to learn the basics of French to be able to ask advice from a pharmacist, order a meal at a restaurant or even understand government communications intended for them.
In short, knowing French allows them to be more autonomous and to be in contact with the host communities.
Should the competitiveness of Quebec farms and the bureaucratic relief demanded by these companies necessarily be achieved to the detriment of these migrant workers? We think not. If agricultural workers are systematically excluded from all government measures promoting francization and inclusion, it is their security and their fundamental needs that are denied to them. Let’s stop treating them as an underclass of workers.