International Agricultural Worker Housing Inspections
Visit our COVID-19 Update page for the latest information from Durham Region Health Department.
International agricultural workers (IAWs) also known as migrant farm workers, are considered essential workers that come to Ontario to work in the seasonal agricultural sector. Housing accommodations for IAWs must be inspected by Durham Region Health Department prior to worker arrival.
Seasonal housing for international agricultural workers
Providing housing for the first time or in new accommodations:
Every owner/operator who intends to provide seasonal housing for migrant farm workers for the first time or in a new accommodation shall notify Durham Region Health Department in writing of their intent no later than six weeks prior to the arrival of migrant farm workers.
I have existing housing accommodations:
For existing housing accommodations, please contact Durham Region Health Department a minimum of four weeks prior to worker arrival to arrange an inspection of the seasonal housing accommodations at least 14 days prior to migrant farm workers arriving.
Please note that all IAW housing accommodations must comply with all local building, fire and zoning requirements. It is strongly recommended that those building new bunkhouses, renovating existing bunkhouses, and/or renovating other buildings (e.g. residential homes) for the purpose of accommodating international agricultural workers consult with their local building department and fire department well in advance to ensure permits can be obtained and requirements met before the final inspection for worker approval is conducted.
International agricultural worker employer resources
| Housing accommodation |
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International agricultural worker housing accommodation summary checklist |
| Employer COVID-19 vaccination policy guidance |
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Vaccination policy guidance Employers can review Durham Region Health Department recommendations on what to include in a workplace COVID-19 vaccine policy to establish their own vaccine policy. |
| Workplace |
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Facts about... Respiratory Disease Recommendations for International Agricultural Worker Operations |
| Cleaning and disinfection logs |
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Cleaning and disinfecting log sheet for migrant worker accommodations |
| English Infectious Disease Prevention posters |
Support services for international agricultural workers
The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO): Worker support services
TNO supports temporary foreign workers in Durham with:
- Accurate information on available services and supports regarding health, legal, and social services.
- Provides education and empowers migrant workers to exercise their rights while in Canada.
- Supports increased social, civic engagement and participation of migrant workers in their communities.
Contact: Daniel Quesada-Rebolledo (English and Español)
416-475-2627 (WhatsApp included)
Visit The Neighbourhood Organization Worker Support Services website.
| COVID-19 vaccine information |
|
What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines Vaccine myths and facts Vaccine aftercare |
| Mental health and psychosocial supports |
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Stress relief, health care and community supports for Durham Region international agricultural workers Mental health and addiction treatment services For mental health supports during isolation, ConnexOntario provides telephone, text, chat, and email assistance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Language supports are available in over 170 languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Vietnamese, Thai, Polish, and Serbian. |
Additional resources
| Community Resources |
| International agricultural workers community resource English | Spanish |
| Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) |
Report abuse or mistreatment
You can confidentially report being abused or mistreated using this Online Fraud Reporting Tool.
Report a housing concern or complaint
All international agricultural worker housing is inspected by Durham Region Health Department prior to worker arrival. If you have any questions or concerns about housing conditions, call us at 1-800-841-2729 or 905-668-2020 to speak to a public health inspector.
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