Video shows Alberta migrant workers' cramped quarters

Alberta's farms and greenhouses are employing more migrant workers, but labour rights activists say some are living in horrendous conditions.

Onegroup has released video of 17 Guatemalanmigrant workers living in a cramped, mouldythree-bedroom homein a southern Alberta farming community.

Thevideo was taken by Devin Yeager and his colleagues at the United Food and Commercial Workers in 2010.

Ahandheld camera recorded tours around the home pointingoutrooms withmultiple bunkbeds,mattresses in the attic,tortillas being made in the laundry roomand acarpet of mould growing in an unventilated bathroom.

"We continue to overlook the problem," said Yeager."We continue to say out of sight, out of mind."

Yeager say workers are reluctant to complainfor fear of jeopardizing their jobs.

"It's not an attack on all farmers that hire farm workers," he said."You know our focus is on the large farms that are hiring massive amounts of workers and housing them in barracks-style or... housing them in cramped spaces like this."

Currently, the federal government requires a housing inspection before a company hires workers but labour rights activists say there should frequent follow-ups.