By Times Chronicle Staff
Minimum wage for farm workers harvesting crops by hand in the province has increased 2.8 per cent as of Jan. 1.
The increase is based on BC’s average annual inflation rate in 2021 and is consistent with the 2.8 per cent increase to the minimum hourly wage that came into effect on June 1, 2022.
The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, and specified in the employment standards regulation.
This includes peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.
Each of the 15 crops has its own minimum pay rate such as $23.01 a 1/2 bin for grapes and peaches, $0.628 a kg ($0.285 a pound) for cherries and $21.65 a bin for apples.
This latest increase is the first since 2019 when piece rates in BC were increased by 11.5 per cent in January that year. BC’s farm worker minimum piece rate system has been in place for more than 40 years, having been established in 1981.
The Inter-Agency Agriculture Compliance Committee is a group of organizations that ensure that the rights and safety of workers in the agriculture sector are protected. This includes focus on education, prevention and enforcement.
The Compliance and TFW Team from the Employment Standards Branch is part of the inter-agency committee and conducts random, unannounced inspections of farms where they observe operations, interview workers, review records and talk to farm labour contractors and the owner/producer. Refusing to allow the team to visit could result in being fined $500 to $10,000.
