The Eastern Caribbean Liaison Service and the Ministries of Labour of seven OECS Member States recently met to discuss the strengthening and the harmonization of the coordination of temporary worker programs currently in place between Canada and the Eastern Caribbean countries thus addressing the unemployment issue in the region. Seven OECS Member States have been taking part in the various temporary worker programs established with Canada 50 years ago – St Lucia being one of them. These agreements enabled a significant number of Eastern Caribbean citizens to benefit from employment opportunities in Canada. One of the objectives of the Toronto-based Eastern Caribbean Liaison Service is to strengthen ties with Canada through the increase of the number of workers taking part in these programs, particularly the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program. OECS Ministries of Labour have been able to present their individual country processes on the Selection and Orientation, resulting in the identification of similar challenges and good practices. Participants agreed to work toward one shared policy.
