Approximately 50,000 to 60,000 foreign agricultural, food and fish processing workers come to work in Canada each year. They account for more than 60% of all foreign workers entering Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Under the proposed Quarantine Act, employers are responsible for the two-week pay during which time they cannot work, transportation and accommodations, food and basic supplies needed to meet all of the conditions imposed by public health authorities. Employers who do not comply with the Quarantine Act or the isolation protocol will face severe fines and sanctions including a possible ban from the program.
To ease the burden of mandatory self-isolation order, the federal government has announced that it will provide a conditional funding of $1,500 for each temporary foreign worker. $1500 will be paid to employers or those working with them to ensure that mandatory 14-day isolation protocols or any other public health orders are fully met.