The seafood industry in Canada is opening its doors to female Jamaican workers. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is already sending 19 workers to start the process. - file

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is preparing documentation for another woman to join 18 female workers who depart the island this week to package seafood in Canada.

The ministry said the Canadian High Commission is processing the worker's papers and soon she will be able to join her Jamaican colleagues who left last Tuesday.

The women are the first batch of female workers to be employed in the North American country to package seafood.

Part of an initiative

Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles, said this is part of an initiative by the Government to include more women in the Canadian labour market.

The ages of the women range from 21 to 39. The workers will be employed at Cape Bald Packers Limited in the province of New Brunswick. The women will be packaging seafood for domestic and export purposes.

Breaking ground

At a send-off ceremony for the women on Tuesday, Charles advised the workers to recognise that they are a group of women breaking ground in a special area of employment in Canada.

The ministry assured that liaison services would be in place to provide protection and support for social and cultural adjustment.

He also urged the workers to fend off any temptations to break their contracts and to use the services of the ministry to report any difficulties they may experience.