The opposition has criticized the labour minister’s response to concerns raised by a group of farm workers, in Canada, who described the seasonal agricultural workers programme, as systematic slavery.

Opposition spokesperson on labour and social security, Dr. Angela Brown Burke wants the government to do more to protect the rights of Jamaicans participating in the farm work programme.

Recently, some of the workers wrote to Labour Minister Karl Samuda, about their concerns.

In response Mr. Samuda refuted the claims, adding that, during his recent visit to some farms in Canada, no mistreatment was observed.

Speaking during the People’s National Party’s, St. Andrew South Western constituency conference, at the Greenwich Primary School, on the weekend, Dr. Brown Burke criticized the minister’s response .

She is demanding that a system be implemented to allow farm workers to report incidents anonymously