At the end of May, Veggies from Mexico participated in the signing of the “Harvesting Labour Rights” agreement for the Fresh Produce Industry in conjunction with World Vision Mexico, Ministry of Employment and Social Development of Canada and Pro Familia de Jornaleros IAP of the Growers Association of Culiacan.

In the framework of the T-MEC, the project “Harvesting Labor Rights” is one of the first initiatives that the Canadian government supports in our country and has three main pillars to strengthen the capacity of labor rights, training for employers, and the creation of government protocols to promote the prevention of violations of labor rights. This project is funded by the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) Labor program, which seeks to promote collaboration, partnership, and alliances to address labor issues, specifically in the agricultural sectors of tomato, cucumber, and eggplant crops.

This agreement was signed by Mr. Antonio Beltran Ochoa, Director of Agricola Belher and president of Eleven Rivers/Veggies from Mexico, and this will be the first company in Sinaloa to start working with this project in conjunction with World Vision and Employment and Social Development Canada.

“For me as representative of Agrícola Belher and President of Veggies From Mexico, this signing of the agreement comes to reinforce the work philosophy based on the values of social responsibility that we as an agricultural company implements and as an organization we promote and audit; we know that awareness and constant training is a very positive tool to see changes in the quality of life of our employees at all levels, which is why we are very excited to collaborate in this project hand in hand with World Vision Mexico” – Antonio Beltran – Director of Agrícola Belher and President of Veggies From Mexico.

Enrique Riveros Echavarría, President of the Association of Farmers of the Culiacan River (AARC) del Río Culiacan, who is also a signatory of this agreement, explained that this action is in addition to the work that the social arm of AARC, Pro Familia de Jornaleros Private Assistance Institution (IAP), carries out permanently in the agricultural fields of the Culiacan Valley. The president of AARC pointed out that the work of Pro Familia is to strengthen and expand the actions aimed at improving the welfare and protection of children and adolescents and their families in the fields. Enrique Riveros indicated that AARC will intensify its activities to continue with a fair and safe work environment, where the rights of agricultural workers are fully respected, especially the rights of children and teenagers.

After acknowledging the work of the Pro Familia team, the agricultural leader said that awareness-raising and training activities will continue for farmers, workers, and local communities, to continue to promote the importance of protecting the rights of this vulnerable population.

Javier Ruiz Gaitán – National Director of World Vision Mexico and Spain, Master Oscar Castillo and Cynthia Galicia – Fields of Hope “Campos de Esperanza” of World Vision Mexico, Eng. Antonio and Juan Carlos Beltrán – Agrícola Belher, Badi Zárate – Director of Cooperation and Management of the Secretariat of Substantive Equality between Women and Men (SISEMH), Master Susana Cruickshank – Director of the National Network of Day Laborers and Agricultural Day Laborers, Eng. Enrique Riveros – President of the Asociación de Agricultores del Río de Culiacán, Master Rubén Darío Larios – Director General del Trabajo, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Jalisco, Liliana Núñez – Manager of the Cosechando Derechos Laborales project, Ms. Sandra Hassan – Deputy Minister of Labour of Canada, Mr. Pierre Bouchard – Director for Commercial and Labor Affairs of Canada, Ms. Jane Deeks – Director of Communications of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Jalisco, Ms. Jane Deeks – Director of Communications of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Jalisco, Ms. Pierre Bouchard – Director of the National Network of Day Laborers and Farm Workers of Culiacán, Ms. Jane Deeks – Director of Communications of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Jalisco. Jane Deeks – Director of Communications at the Office of the Minister of Labour of Canada, Mr. Felipe Alfaro – Public Policy Advisor at the Office of the Minister of Labour of Canada, Ms. Yaneth Mahecha – Attaché of the Trade and Labour Affairs Division at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico and Mr. Peter McKernan – Political Counselor.

The signing of this agreement represents an important step towards labor rights advocacy in the agricultural sector and the commitment of all parties involved to ensure a more just and equitable future for children and adolescents.

World Vision Mexico is a global humanitarian aid organization that has been working for 40 years in Mexico, transforming living conditions and increasing opportunities for a better future for girls, boys, teenagers, and young people who live in the most vulnerable situations in the country, reaching the farthest corners.