University of British Columbia researchers find migrant workers in Okanagan face extreme heat exceeding safety guidelines in workplace and living conditions.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that migrant workers in the Okanagan region of British Columbia face extreme heat conditions, exceeding safety guidelines, in both their workplace and living conditions. Recorded temperatures reached 42.8 degrees Celsius in August, surpassing the B.C. Agricultural Council and Western Agricultural Labour Initiative guidelines of 25.5 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively. Migrant workers faced challenges in addressing the heat issue, often encountering obstacles when trying to acquire and use air conditioning units. The researchers recommend an overhaul of regulations, including a national standard for migrant worker housing, to address the urgent issue, as they often struggle to access their rights due to the closed temporary foreign worker permit system.