In a historic step toward reducing poverty and protecting children from exploitative labor, El Salvador has sent its first group of shellfish harvesters to work in Canada, as part of the Labor Migration Program led by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MTPS).
This inaugural group is made up of residents from La Calzada Island, located in the coastal region of San Luis La Herradura, La Paz Centro, known for its traditional shellfish extraction practices in mangrove areas. For years, families here have relied on artisanal harvesting of curiles and punches to survive, often requiring children to abandon school to contribute to the family income.
Minister of Labor Rolando Castro highlighted that this initiative is not only about creating decent job opportunities, but also breaking cycles of poverty and child labor. “We visited this island and found children working instead of attending school. Our commitment, as directed by President Nayib Bukele, is to reach the most impoverished communities—not by asking them to come to the ministry, but by bringing the ministry to them,” Castro stated.
“Thanks to the government’s support, we are no longer getting on a canoe to collect shellfish—we are boarding a plane to Canada,” shared Noé Rodríguez Martínez, one of the program’s beneficiaries. “We were practically forgotten, but now real opportunities are arriving.”
Empowering Families, Protecting Children
The Labor Migration Program provides a two-year employment opportunity in Canada for these adults, allowing them to earn a dignified wage under legal protections, while giving their children a chance to return to school.
This initiative directly supports vulnerable coastal communities, offering not only formal employment abroad, but also reinforcing a broader social protection strategy that ensures children stay in school and families have a sustainable source of income.
According to MTPS, this is the first contingent of its kind to travel to Canada, and it sets a precedent for future agreements aimed at transforming the lives of Salvadorans through international labor mobility, while addressing systemic poverty and child labor at its root.
