Seasonal workers in Ontario have filed a class action lawsuit against the federal government, denouncing the fact that they must contribute to the employment insurance system without being able to access benefits once they return to their home country.

The plaintiffs also denounced the contractual obligation that binds them to one employer.

The value of their class action claim is 500 million dollars. This proposal must be approved by the courts to proceed.

"This issue has been ongoing for some time," said lawyer Jody Brown from Goldblatt who initiated the class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Kevin Palmer and Andreil Peters from the Caribbean region, who worked in the Leamington area.

Ottawa defends itself...

The Canadian Ministry of Labour and Social Development refused to comment on the matter, as it is before the courts.

However, the ministry confirmed in an email statement that temporary foreign workers have the same rights and protections as Canadians when they are in the country.

Me Brown opposes that seasonal workers do not have the right to change employers under the federal program that allows them to come and work temporarily in the country.

He added that when the harvest season ends, they must return home without being able to access employment insurance benefits, despite having contributed to the plan.

Chris Ramsaroop, from the Justice for Migrant Workers group, also welcomed the class action request. According to him, the employment insurance system should be amended so that seasonal workers can receive benefits "like Canadian workers."

He said: "It is troubling. It is the twenty-first century and we still have a system of forced labor. Workers should not be limited to one employer or placed in such a risky situation."