The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act was passed in 2015, bringing the protection and compensation of waged, non-family farm and ranch workers in line with similar protections in other sectors across Canada. The Government of Alberta has been consulting with the agriculture industry to understand how workplace standards can be applied to the agriculture sector, recognizing that it is unique and requires consideration to protect family farming practices.
To support understanding of these legislative changes, the Government of Alberta has developed the attached Frequently Asked Questions sheet, titled Workplace Legislation for Farms, which highlights elements of the new rules under the Labour Relations Code and Employment Standards Code.
The Government of Alberta is hosting a series of webinars this December intended to provide an overview of changes to the Employment Standards Code, specific to farms and ranches, and the employment standards that will apply to these unique environments. To attend a webinar, please register online, and note that multiple individuals from the same organization may participate under a single registration.
In addition, information is now available on the Government of Alberta website that reflects changes to Alberta’s employment standards broadly that will be coming into force on January 1, 2018.
Enquiries may be directed to:
Tasha Blumenthal
Policy Analyst
780.955.4094
Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079