Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (PTAT)(PTAT)Mexico - CanadaMexico - Canada

BackgroundBackground

In 1973 negotiations In 1973 negotiations between the two between the two governments to achieve governments to achieve an agreement in order to an agreement in order to allow seasonal mobility of allow seasonal mobility of Mexican workers to Mexican workers to Canada were initiated. Canada were initiated.

In 1974 a Memorandum In 1974 a Memorandum of Understanding was of Understanding was signed in Ottawasigned in Ottawa.

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Legal FrameworkLegal Framework The Canadian government: The Canadian government: Regulate the admission of Regulate the admission of workersworkersInform about the number of Inform about the number of workers requestedworkers requestedIssue the work permitsIssue the work permits

The Mexican government:The Mexican government:Recruit and select the workersRecruit and select the workersHandles personal documents for Handles personal documents for workersworkersTransmit worker data and arrival Transmit worker data and arrival dates to Canadadates to Canada

Secretariats InvolvedSecretariats Involved

Secretariat of LaborSecretariat of Labor

Secretariat of Foreign Secretariat of Foreign RelationsRelations

Secretariat of Secretariat of Gobernación (Interior Gobernación (Interior Ministry)Ministry)

Secretariat of HealthSecretariat of Health

Program RequirementsProgram Requirements

Mexican NationalsMexican Nationals Age (22 to 45) Age (22 to 45) Good health Good health Occupation Occupation

(experienced (experienced agricultural workers)agricultural workers)

Educational level Educational level Marital status Marital status Rural inhabitantsRural inhabitants

General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines Length of contractLength of contract

Meals and housing Meals and housing

Salaries and Salaries and insurancesinsurances

TransportTransport

Types of Workers

Nominal workers Nominal workers (returning to specific (returning to specific farms each year)farms each year)

Workers of selection Workers of selection (not specified)(not specified)

Reserve workers Reserve workers (replacement (replacement /alternates)/alternates)

Main Sectors

The Mexican labor The Mexican labor force is mainly force is mainly concentrated in the concentrated in the Canadian production Canadian production of fruits, vegetables of fruits, vegetables and tobacco, as well and tobacco, as well as in the agricultural as in the agricultural packaging plants. packaging plants.

New SectorsNew Sectors

Currently both Currently both governments are governments are working together in working together in order to develop pilot order to develop pilot projects in the tourism projects in the tourism and construction and construction sectors in the sectors in the provinces of Alberta provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. and British Columbia.

StatisticsStatistics (1974-2010)(1974-2010)

Nine Provinces Where the PTAT Nine Provinces Where the PTAT OperatesOperates

As of 2010 there were almost 16,000 participating workersAs of 2010 there were almost 16,000 participating workers. .