An organization that works with immigrants says the temporary closure of a large slaughterhouse in southern Alberta has left many among its largely Filipino workforce fearful for the future.

Cargill shut down its plant just north of High River, Alta., earlier this week after an outbreak of COVID-19 and the death of one employee. The decision put 2,000 employees out of work.

Marichu Antonio from Action Dignity said 70 per cent of the workers at Cargill are Filipino. There are also Mexicans, Chinese and Vietnamese working at the plant.

Her organization, previously known as the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary, assists new Canadians obtain services. She said it has received hundreds of calls from Cargill workers.

Antonio, who is originally from the Philippines, said people are worried about what happens after the plant reopens.

鈥淭he possibility of death is so real right now. They know the long-term implications to their families if something happens to them as the main breadwinners, so they鈥檙e very worried They鈥檙e afraid,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 know what their future is and they don鈥檛 know what is best for them.鈥�

Antonio said the death of the Cargill worker in her 60s has hit many people hard.

鈥淭he woman who passed away was of Vietnamese descent. She took her sick day that Friday and then she was hospitalized Saturday and passed away Sunday.鈥�

Antonio鈥檚 organization helped the woman鈥檚 husband arrange a funeral.

Cesar Cala, a co-convener of the Filipino Emergency Response Task Force, said a significant number of plant employees are temporary foreign workers here in Canada alone. There are also many with permanent resident status who have their families with them.

He said those who are sending money home often look to save expenses by moving in with other workers.

鈥淓ither they rent places or they make living arrangements with other workers from other businesses. It鈥檚 a good way to save money.鈥�

The cost savings go beyond living together.

鈥淭hey car-pool. Most of them live in Calgary, so it saves a lot of money for them to go in a car-pool 鈥� five of them going there together and coming back.鈥�

Cala said workers are worried about their health and feeling pressure to head back to work, even if they are still showing symptoms. He said having a steady income is a priority for them.

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鈥淔or a lot of the (temporary foreign workers), their employment and their status to stay in Canada is tied up to their employment. It鈥檚 not just losing their jobs,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t might be about losing their status as well. They鈥檝e incurred so much cost coming to Canada and they鈥檙e also quite anxious, because there鈥檚 no clarity on what鈥檚 going to happen and what鈥檚 in store.鈥�

Antonio said her group has been urging workers to tell their stories publicly.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been asking them 鈥� to share their stories and their reality, but they鈥檙e afraid that they may not be rehired. There are many stories that they can tell.鈥�

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

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