Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is the federal program Employment and Social Development Canada runs so that eligible farm employers can hire temporary foreign workers. A buyer of a farm or greenhouse meets it where the operation depends on seasonal labour brought in under it.

Who qualifies

ESDC says employers must meet three criteria: the workers must be citizens of Mexico or participating Caribbean countries, the production must be in specific commodity sectors, and the activity must be on-farm primary agriculture. It adds that the program operates under bilateral agreements between Canada and the participating countries. ESDC’s requirements page says an employer can transfer a worker from one farm to another only with the worker’s consent and prior written approval from the foreign government representative in Canada and from ESDC/Service Canada. Whether a seller’s participation carries over to a new owner is a question for ESDC.

What to ask the seller

• Whether the farm currently uses the program, and for which workers.
• The signed contract copies ESDC says an employer must keep on file for inspection.
• Whether housing meets the standard ESDC describes, adequate, suitable and affordable as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation defines them.

The buying a farm business guide covers the wider purchase, and an employer-specific work permit is the permit type tied to one employer.