Food insecurity among temporary migrant workers in Quebec’ agri-food system

Temporary migrant workers (TMWs) are essential to agri‑food systems, yet their own access to adequate food remains largely invisible in public health research and policy. Between 2005 to 2023, TMW employment in Canada’s agri‑food system increased more than sixfold (from 21,900 to 147,000), reflecting a sustained reliance on migrant labour embedded in temporary and circular mobility. This study examines how repeated stays in Canada are associated with food insecurity among TMWs, using Québec’s agriculture and food manufacturing sectors as a case study with relevance for countries that rely on seasonal agri-food labour. Within a convergent mixed‑methods study co-developed with community partners, we report preliminary survey findings from 283 TMWs in Québec’s agriculture and food manufacturing sectors. The interviewer-administered survey measured sociodemographic characteristics, number of stays in Canada, and food insecurity status (any vs. none), using the Household Food Security Survey Module. Food insecurity prevalence was 66.4% among agricultural TMWs (95% CI [59, 74]) and 41.9% among food manufacturing TMWs (95% CI [33, 51]). Participants reported 1–22 stays in Canada, with cumulative durations ranging from 1 month to 12.3 years. TMWs experiencing food insecurity had a significantly higher number of stays in Canada than food secure TMWs (U = 12792.0, Z = 4.430, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that, after adjustment for sector, each additional stay was associated with a 13% increase in odds of food insecurity (OR = 1.13, p = 0.005). Food insecurity among agri-food TMWs is high and increases with repeated circular temporary migration, indicating cumulative life‑course impacts likely shaped by restrictive labour and migration policies. These findings support public health action on structural determinants, and emphasize the importance of aligning migration, labour, and food policies to protect food as a common good.

Key messages

• Food insecurity is widespread among agri-food temporary migrant workers and is shaped by cumulative, repeated stays in Canada.

• To protect food as a common good, public health action must address the structural determinants of food insecurity affecting temporary migrant workers.