Press release: Worsening food insecurity among migrant farm workers in Nova Scotia

Photo: NOII-Hfx members deliver food boxes to migrant workers in Nova Scotia

Halifax, Nova Scotia (September 2, 2022) - Since July 2022, No one is illegal – Halifax/Kjipuktuk’s (NOII-Hfx) Migrant Workers Program distributed 360 food boxes to migrant farm workers across Nova Scotia. The NOII-Hfx food boxes are free and contain culturally relevant food items. As this initiative enters its second year, NOII-Hfx says that migrant workers are facing increased food insecurity. 

According to NOII-Hfx, migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity in Nova Scotia. They are often paid minimum wage and have limited access to support services like food banks. While the minimum wage in Nova Scotia is set to increase to $15/hour in 2024, many migrant workers say that change is too slow to keep pace with rising living costs. 

“Grocery items are 25% more than last year in terms of the essential food items required to live. So, we try to buy less, to be able to send the most amount of money back home. But, buying less affects us. If we go with less food, we can’t do the same amount of work, and we get sick more often. This affects us and employers,” said a Mexican migrant worker in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program. 

“It is difficult. Sometimes due to fear, we don’t want to speak out. Workers say things sometimes and they don’t come back. Employers like it when we only work and don’t complain,” he added. 

“Migrant workers are made vulnerable due to their temporary immigration status. For this reason, they do not have access to the same rights and benefits that many of us take for granted. The situation is more difficult for migrant workers right now due to the rising cost of food,” said Hasan Sinan, NOII-Hfx Logistics Coordinator, who coordinated the food box initiative.

NOII-Hfx is among the organizations across the country advocating for full and permanent immigration status for all immediately.

Since 2021, NOII-Hfx has provided information and support to over 3,000 migrant workers throughout the province