Canada is building on a successful program, which recruits Mexican workers to fill shortages in agriculture, by expanding it to include low-skill jobs in construction, meatpacking, and the hotel industry. Last year more than 10,000 Mexicans were recruited to work in Canada in their guest workers program. To participate, Mexican workers must have a job offer by a Canadian employer who can't find employees locally. In return they can work from six weeks to eight months, receive minimum wages, a 40-hour workweek and free housing. President Bush proposed a similar program for the United States this year.
See "Canada Recruits Workers From Mexico", Associated Press, The New York Times, June 13, 2004