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

Background In 1973 negotiations between the two governments to achieve an agreement in order to allow seasonal mobility of Mexican workers to Canada were initiated. In 1974 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Ottawa In 1974 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Ottawa..

Legal Framework The Canadian government: The Canadian government: Regulate the admission of workers Regulate the admission of workers Inform about the number of workers requested Inform about the number of workers requested Issue the work permits Issue the work permits The Mexican government: The Mexican government: Recruit and select the workers Recruit and select the workers Handles personal documents for workers Handles personal documents for workers Transmit worker data and arrival dates to Canada Transmit worker data and arrival dates to Canada

Secretariats Involved Secretariat of Labor Secretariat of Labor Secretariat of Foreign Relations Secretariat of Foreign Relations Secretariat of Gobernación (Interior Ministry) Secretariat of Gobernación (Interior Ministry) Secretariat of Health Secretariat of Health

Program Requirements Mexican Nationals Mexican Nationals Age (22 to 45) Age (22 to 45) Good health Good health Occupation (experienced agricultural workers) Occupation (experienced agricultural workers) Educational level Educational level Marital status Marital status Rural inhabitants Rural inhabitants

General Guidelines Length of contract Length of contract Meals and housing Meals and housing Salaries and insurances Salaries and insurances Transport Transport

Types of Workers Nominal workers (returning to specific farms each year) Nominal workers (returning to specific farms each year) Workers of selection (not specified) Workers of selection (not specified) Reserve workers (replacement /alternates) Reserve workers (replacement /alternates)

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

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

Statistics ( )

Nine Provinces Where the PTAT Operates Nine Provinces Where the PTAT Operates As of 2010 there were almost 16,000 participating workers.