An Armstrong group has expressed concerns about the well-being of migrant farmworkers in the Okanagan during an unprecedented heat wave after being told by one head of a crew, 害羞草研究所榃e are miserable.害羞草研究所�

Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture (RAMA) said farmworkers are retreating to housing unequipped to withstand the record-breaking temperatures.

A cool space to rest, says the group, is essential to avoiding heat stress, exhaustion and workplace accidents or injuries.

害羞草研究所淲e have visited migrant housing across the valley this week and indoor heat levels are unbearable,害羞草研究所� said RAMA害羞草研究所檚 Robyn Bunn. 害羞草研究所淰ery few workers have access to what they need to survive this heat wave, such as fans, AC units, cold water, or ice 害羞草研究所� anything that would provide some relief from the intense heat.害羞草研究所�

RAMA is urgently seeking donations of electric fans, hats, sunscreen, electrolytes, and basic food provisions. They are also accepting monetary donations which can be sent to ramaokanagan@gmail.com.

The communities and agricultural economy are dependent on the approximate 5,000 migrant workers, primarily from Latin America and the Caribbean, to do the difficult, physically demanding work which most local residents reject.

These farmworkers typically work outdoors in direct sunlight during the hottest months year. In their bunkhouses, many have difficulty sleeping, RAMA said, due to high temperatures which could increase their risk of heat exposure.

Last week害羞草研究所檚 temperatures reaching up to 44 C increased the risk to dangerous levels.

Many employers have modified workers害羞草研究所� schedules to beat the heat. Start times range between midnight and 3 a.m. with shifts often ending before noon.

害羞草研究所淪ome workers have even been given a few days off,害羞草研究所� said Elise Hjalmarson of RAMA. 害羞草研究所淏ut they are still overheating. They tell us that they feel faint, that some of them are running out of food while they wait for their next paycheques, and that they haven害羞草研究所檛 seen their employers for days. They害羞草研究所檙e not sleeping and worried about returning to work unrested.害羞草研究所�

Workers are keenly aware of their precarious status in Canada.

They urge RAMA not to reach out to their employers, fearing they will lose their jobs or that speaking out will reflect badly upon workers from their country. As non-citizens, research shows that migrant farmworkers frequently work through injuries and illnesses to appease supervisors and to mitigate any risk of their being sent home.

Without the support they need from their employers, who are responsible for the provision of farmworker housing, RAMA and other community groups are taking action.

Over the past week, RAMA organizers have gathered donations of fans and funds to buy emergency provisions and delivered them to farms throughout the Central and North Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been buying up supplies as quickly as we can 害羞草研究所� we even cleaned out a couple of stores of their electric fans,害羞草研究所� said Bunn. 害羞草研究所淎nd the requests from workers keep pouring in.害羞草研究所�

Providing workers with safe, comfortable, and cool spaces where they can recuperate after a hard day of physical labour in the sun is essential for migrant workers害羞草研究所� well-being and safety on the job.

害羞草研究所淎re their employers suffering through these same conditions?害羞草研究所� asks Bunn. 害羞草研究所淲e know many of them work the orchards alongside their workers. But when they go home, do they have what they need to cool down and sleep at night or rest in the day? Because these farmworkers do not.

害羞草研究所淲e are urging employers, please, do more than give your workers the day off.害羞草研究所�

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