Just like the Netherlands, Canada depends hugely on foreign labour. Like many companies in the sector, Rainbow Greenhouses relies on the Temporary Foreign Worker programme. Without these TFWs, our greenhouses would never be filled with tropical indoor plants and spring flowers, and the shelves of our retail partners would remain half empty.
The vast majority of these temporary workers come from Mexico, but we also have programmes with the Philippines and Guatemala. People travel thousands of kilometres to come and work here for several months. Their dedication is impressive: day in, day out, far away from their families and in a different climate, they contribute to the sowing, propagating, potting and preparing of our plants for shipment. What they bring with them is not just ‘manpower’, but also a tremendous work ethic. For many Canadian growers, these international teams are indispensable because there are not enough Canadians willing or able to do the work. That is why all four of our locations include large residential buildings to house the TFWs close to our greenhouses.
Meanwhile, both here and in the Netherlands, politicians are working hard to find an answer to the issue of immigration. Parties are looking for a stronger stance on immigration. Last week, it was breaking news that TFW programmes must be abolished as soon as possible to give Canadians a fair chance in the labour market.
