There was a bit of a to do in Canada over a TV news report that highlighted opportunities for Filipinos as mushroom pickers in Ontario.
The programme aired the first week of April, and since then a Filipino migrants watchdog has criticised the programme’s depiction as not as “rosy” as the reality.
There is a looming a shortage of labour in Canada’s thriving $1 billion mushrooms industry with at least 700 mushroom pickers or harvesters needed. The issues surrounding employment and rights for workers coming to Canada to work in the mushroom sector is getting a lot of airplay in the country and is reaching higher governmental levels.
Of course there are Irish interests in the Canadian sector, with Monaghan and Fyffes both operating in the country.
Funnily enough the reports on the amount of pickers needed in Canada and the numbers needed In Ireland seem to be very similar.
