Migrant workers in Jersey are often afraid to report problems at work because they fear it could affect their job or immigration status, an inquest has heard. The hearing is examining the death of George Michael Monte De Ramos Castrudes, a 37-year-old seasonal farmworker who died in 2025 after a fire he lit to keep warm got out of control at La Valette nursery.
Castrudes, a Filipino national, was employed on a nine-month seasonal contract by the Blake family. The inquest is looking into whether his financial struggles and immigration status may have played a role in the circumstances that led to his death. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning after using a makeshift fire inside his accommodation.
During the hearing, senior manager Andrew Allan from the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service told the court that migrant workers often worry that raising complaints could “in some way compromise their job”. He said this was a commonly heard concern among migrant employees. However, he stressed that genuine complaints would not affect a worker’s immigration status.
Allan explained that Jersey’s work permit policy requires employers to provide accommodation that supports workers’ health and wellbeing. However, he confirmed that the customs and immigration service does not routinely check housing conditions and does not collect detailed information about accommodation during the permit application process. He described the system as “reactive”, meaning issues are investigated only after complaints are made.
The inquest previously heard from an environmental health officer who described Castrudes’ living conditions as “unacceptable” and “unfit for human habitation” because of the extreme cold. According to fire reports, the cabin did not have enough heating and would have been impossible to warm in a cost-efficient way. No formal complaints about the accommodation were made to the authorities before his death.
Jane Rueb from the Jersey Farmers’ Union said the union handled Castrudes’ work permit application. She explained that the union works with a Philippine-based recruitment agency, Diamond H, which helps arrange contracts for seasonal workers. Representatives from the agency usually visit Jersey farms to inspect working and living conditions, but they did not visit La Valette when it first hired Filipino workers due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Rueb said farmworkers are encouraged to raise complaints directly with their employers, but if they feel worried or shy, they can contact the recruitment agency instead. She noted that 90% of Filipino farmworkers return to Jersey each year, suggesting that most do not experience major problems. However, she confirmed that portable cabin accommodation like the one Castrudes lived in is gradually being phased out across the farming industry.
The inquest is expected to conclude on Friday. Its findings could influence future guidance on worker accommodation, including fire safety measures such as fire extinguishers, working alarms and fire blankets. The case has raised wider concerns about whether migrant workers feel safe enough to report poor living conditions without fearing consequences for their jobs or immigration status.