Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers
Act, was recently introduced in the Alberta Legislature. If
passed, the Bill would make farms and ranches and their workers
subject to:
- workplace requirements under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act;
- Workers' Compensation Board insurance coverage;
- Alberta's Employment Standards Code so that
provisions dealing with hours of work, overtime, holidays,
vacations, restrictions on the employment of children, and minimum
wage would all apply; and
- Alberta's Labour Relations Code so that full
unionization rights would be available to farm and ranch
employees.
These changes could apply to farmworkers as early as January 1,
2016. However, the Government has recently stated that further
consultation with farmers will take place before technical health
and safety rules are developed, and before changes are made to
Employment Standards and Labour Relations legislation.
