Jamaica’s longstanding Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Programme continues to serve as a transformative economic lifeline for countless families, creating pathways to financial stability, home ownership, and entrepreneurial success. For over six decades, this government-managed initiative has facilitated temporary agricultural employment opportunities in Canada and the United States, with recent departures marking the beginning of the 2026 season.
Edward Gayle from St Elizabeth exemplifies the program’s life-changing impact. Initially skeptical when he first joined in 2018, Gayle now returns annually to the same Ontario farm where he has developed strong, respectful relationships with employers. His financial gains have enabled him to expand his home from a single room to a comfortable family residence, fund his children’s education, and invest in his local farming business. The program’s value became particularly evident during Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed some of his crops but spared his home and livestock—prompting plans to build more resilient hurricane-proof structures using earnings from his current work season.
Veteran participant Oakley Rowe demonstrates even more dramatic success after 13 years in the program. The skilled construction worker and farmer has built a sturdy four-bedroom home that weathered Hurricane Melissa without damage. His achievements continue with plans to develop rental properties, leveraging the substantial weekly earnings that can reach $800 USD after taxes. Rowe emphasizes that consistent effort in the program yields tangible rewards for those with clear goals.
Sheldon Miller of Clarendon represents the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by the program. Since 2015, Miller has utilized both earnings and acquired skills to establish a local grocery business and expand into coconut and orange farming. He stresses the importance of strategic planning, noting that overseas earnings must be invested wisely rather than spent frivolously upon return to Jamaica.
The recent departure of 182 workers—97 on Tuesday and 85 on Wednesday—marks another season of opportunity, with 90% being returning workers. This retention rate underscores the mutual satisfaction between Jamaican workers and Canadian employers across provinces including Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. Workers will engage in greenhouse agriculture and fruit/vegetable cultivation for the next eight months.
As Jamaica approaches the program’s 60th anniversary, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing while preserving the initiative’s integrity. The minister urged participants to maintain the program’s proud legacy dating back to 1966, emphasizing health, safety, mutual support, and exemplary representation of Jamaica abroad.