Farming companies provide programs for training and care for workers and their families
The community of farmers from Sinaloa, Veggies from Mexico, has a consistent development and educational training program for employees working in their lands and their families.
Every year, thousands of workers migrate to the fields from Sinaloa to work, coming from other states of Mexico; mostly Oaxaca, Guerrero and Veracruz; as well as from the highland area of Sinaloa, normally from the municipalities of Sinaloa and Badiraguato.
These workers remain in the farming company facilities for periods of about 3-6 months, so it is of utmost importance that they are in safe and comfortable conditions so that their stay becomes a good experience and there is a good performance at work.
Farming companies which are part of Veggies from Mexico, a community of growers who take responsibility for growing fresh, nutritional, healthy and safe vegetables, promoting the development of communities of farmer workers.
“As farming producers, we are a community that cares for the environment, promotes the development of both people and their communities, and conducts business with ethics and transparency,” said Georgius Gotsis, Veggies from Mexico CEO.
“We seek to provide the benefits in accordance with the provisions of Mexican laws and worldwide agreements, taking under consideration the certification demands, and even the requirements of migrant population, according to their particular habits.”
The CEO mentioned some examples of these benefits:
Benefits in accordance with the law
This is all things related to decent wages, vacation payments, vacation bonus, Christmas bonus, settlement payments, and additional hours, among others.
Daycare facility
In coordination with government agencies, they set up clean and safe spaces within the facilities of farming companies, providing care for the children of workers. Here, they receive a balanced diet, early stimulation, health monitoring and cultural, recreational and sports activities. All these in alignment with personnel that is being constantly trained.
Decent housing
Housing spaces adapted to the number of family members (or small groups in the event of people who migrate without a family) are offered. These are clean, safe, free of charge, equipped with basic services such as drinking water, sinks, showers and restrooms with privacy.
Transportation
Both from the place of residence (round trip), and for internal mobility, workers are transported in clean and safe conditions with their documents in order, life insurance and medical expenses for occupants in the event of an accident.
Education
Educational integration and continuance is promoted at basic levels, through the construction of classrooms within the same shelters or transportation to the school of the nearest community. Also, hiring CONAFE teachers, educational counseling, the award of scholarships and pantries. Work is being performed in cooperation with INEA (the National Institute for the Education of Adults) for the education of adult groups.
Community dining areas
Food preparation services are provided in healthy conditions, sometimes completely free or at very low prices.
Medical services
Several strategies are implemented. For example, installing medical offices equipped and supplied, attended by competent medical personnel; the visit of the “mobile unit” from the Social Security Institute (IMSS) a couple of times a week, the transfer to the community clinics on demand, the promotion of health through conference campaigns, vaccination, sharing information, among other strategies.
Health, safety and civil protection programs
Workers are trained to identify work-related risks and crews are developed to act in the event of an accident, proper use of personal protection equipment, among other activities to minimize the risk of having an accident or work-related illness.
Other services
Very particular services have been implemented according to the needs of the populations in shelters. For example, lactation rooms so that working mothers are able to breastfeed their children during their working hours. Shops, either DICONSA stores or not, with affordable prices, tortilla shops, bakeries, water purification plants, even chapels and other spaces for religious and/or cultural activities.
Georgius Gotsis stated that all of these services and benefits go hand in hand with continuous training for all personnel. “This is so that they learn about what they are entitled to just for belonging to a certain company, including middle-management personnel, so that they are capable of encouraging and motivating others.”
Por: BLANCA HERNÁNDEZ
Source: www.noroeste.com.mx
