United Nations Radio

A programme to facilitate temporary migration of workers from Guatemala to Canada reached a milestone of 10,000 people this week.

Workers in Guatemala

The IOM says the programme, started as a two-year pilot with just over 200 workers in 2003, has been successful, leading to an annual increase in the number of participants.

The migration agency provides technical assistance to the Guatemalan government, participates in the selection of workers, advises those selected on travel requirements to Canada and arranges their flights.

According to IOM, over 90 per cent of all Guatemalan migrants it assists travel to the Province of Quebec where IOM is working with an association of employers.

The majority of the migrants work in the agriculture but the programme has been extended to other areas including poultry, construction, dairy, landscaping and laundry services.

IOM says the agreement to stipulates that all migrants must return to their country of origin at the end of their contracts, which range in duration four to six months.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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