Temporary Work Programs: Nature, Conditions and Disadvantages

This essay discusses the nature, conditions and disadvantages of temporary work programs, with a focus on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW) Programs in Canada. It highlights the lack of job security, social exclusion, and exploitation of workers in these programs.

Running head: TEMPORARY WORK PROGRAMS
Temporary Work Programs
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
The aim of this essay is to identify the nature of the temporary working programs. In order to
fulfil the purpose, the Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW) Programs in Canada have been
taken into account. In temporary work the working hours and the tenure of the workers are
decided by the organizations which provide employment. These are normally organized during
the summer and during the peak periods of the organizations. The essay describes the conditions
of the workers involved in these programs.

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Introduction
Temporary work also called temporary employment is a situation where the hours of
work have been made limited according to the needs of the organization. The temporary
employees are sometimes referred to as “freelance”, “contractual” and “seasonal” (Pirani &
Salvini, 2015). Temporary workers work full time or part time depending on the requirements of
the organization. The temporary jobs are for a very short time which is usually not more than a
month which is the major disadvantage of these programs. Moreover, the uncertainty and lack of
social inclusions and interactions with the permanent employers are the causes why most people
avoid to work as temporary workers.
Discussion
Most of the organizations provide seasonal employment. The employees have to work
during the peak period of the organization. The peak periods are often coincided with the
summer holidays or with other holidays. This results in the large number of workers to remain
jobless for the rest of the year. The temporary workers are mostly excluded and the permanent
workers are not very eager to contact with them. This results in social exclusion and the workers
feel alienated not only with the workplace but also with their selves (Gebel, 2013). The Seasonal
Agricultural Workers (SAW) Program in Canada brings the workers from Mexico paying them
nominal wages. The workers heave to for twice a year- once during the spring and again during
the fall. “If you want 100 Canadians, you have to hire 300,” said Sikking. (Amuchastegui,
2018).
There is much uncertainty in the temporary work programs. Though the temporary style
of working provides flexible timing to the employees, many professionals feel uneasy to do this

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type of jobs. Moreover these works provide employment for a very short period of time. The
employees are usually employed for not more than a month. Only few employing organizations
provide employment for more than a month that might last not more than half a year round
(Radjai et al., 2015). The workers associated with the SAW program heave to for twice a year-
once during the spring and again during the fall. The workers are sent back to their home town at
Mexico if they try to complaint against the farmers. The workers cannot return back to their
homeland before expiry of half their tenure of work. In some cases when the workers return
back, they have to pay back the airfare that the farmers have spend in order to bring them to
Canada, which they are unable to pay. It is the most important and powerful cause that the
workers do not quit their jobs. “It’s a tangible, positive example of what can happen when two
parties agree to administer migration, given the need of one party for labour, and the need of the
other party to provide jobs. It’s a way to manage the phenomenon of migration without the risk
associated with border crossing by indocumentados.” (Amuchastegui, 2018).
The permanent workers of an organization enjoy job security which the temporary
workers normally lack. The contractual workers are not protected under the Employment
Standards Act which the permanent workers enjoy. The contractual workers can terminated at
any point of time as the organizations deems fit without providing any cause or notice. The
workers might not get the payment he or she is supposed to get after the completion of his work
at the organization. These workers cannot even complaint about the issues and risks he or she has
to face in the organization and the employers while delivering his work (Yakimov & Tavrizov,
2016). The farmers do not provide the workers the reasonable wages for their hard work. Even
the government of Canada deduct a large sum of money in the form of taxes from the
paycheques of the workers. The contractual workers migrating Canada do not receive the same

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privileges as the workers of Canada. To get certain social benefits, the workers have to be
resident of Canada. These contractual workers are not the residents of Canada and leave the
country as soon as their work permits are expired. These workers are made to pay the EI
premiums but do not receive the same. The workers have to return back to Mexico if they require
any kind of health care facilities as they do not receive the same from their workplace at Canada.
“They promise things and don’t deliver. That’s what he heard.” (Amuchastegui, 2018).
It can be suggested that the Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW) Program should
provide equal EI to the residential workers of Canada and the Mexican workers who come to
work in Canada. The medical conditions of the seasonal workers from Mexico should also be
taken care of by the farmers. Many people consider the taking of the airfare by the farmers from
the poor and hard working labours as unethical. Moreover, working for long hours leads to
serious deterioration in the health conditions of the workers. It is the sole duty of the
management of the program must look after the fact that the workers are not exploited for the
benefits of the farmers.
Conclusion
Though the contractual work programs are advantageous for people, it has many
disadvantages too. The main drawback of contractual work lies in the psychology of the workers.
The workers feel that they are not worthy of doing permanent work and feel alienated and
excluded from others. Besides, there is no job security and certainty regarding the working
conditions and the tenure of the workers. Most of the time the contractual workers are exempted
from the benefits received by the permanent workers. Hence, it can be concluded that the
temporary working programs are disadvantageous than permanent work.

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References
Amuchastegui, M. (2018). Maria Amuchastegui » Farming It Out. Amuchastegui.com. Retrieved
21 April 2018, from http://www.amuchastegui.com/publications/farming-it-out/
Gebel, M. (2013). Is a temporary job better than unemployment? A cross-country comparison
based on British, German, and Swiss panel data. Schmollers Jahrbuch, 133(2), 143-155.
Pirani, E., & Salvini, S. (2015). Is temporary employment damaging to health? A longitudinal
study on Italian workers. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 121-131.
Radjai, T., Gaubert, J. P., Rahmani, L., & Mekhilef, S. (2015). Experimental verification of P&O
MPPT algorithm with direct control based on Fuzzy logic control using CUK
converter. International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems, 25(12), 3492-3508.
Yakimov, A. S., & Tavrizov, V. E. (2016). Licensing of Crude Hydrocarbons in Russia–the
Current System, Its Problems and Disadvantages. GEORESURSY, 18(1), 58-63.