Farm Worker Exemptions in Alberta Legislation

Employment Standards Code

Section 2(3) and 2(4) exempt agricultural workers from most provisions of Code, including minimum wage, overtime, hours of work, statutory holidays, vacation and employment of children.

Action Required: Amendment to delete sections 2(3) and 2(4).
By Whom: Legislature

Labour Relations Code

Section 4(2)(e) indicates that the Code does not apply to agricultural workers, meaning farm workers cannot join a union.

Action Required: Amendment to delete Section 4(2)(e)
By Whom: Legislature

Occupational Health and Safety Act

In the Act, Section 1(s) excludes farming operations from the definition of "occupation", which effectively excludes farm workers from health and safety protection.

The Farming and Ranching Exemption Regulation outlines the specific industries to which the exclusion applies.

Action Required:
    1. Amend section 1(s) to remove exclusion
    2. Repeal Farming and Ranching Exemption Regulation
By Whom: 
    1. Legislature
    2. Cabinet

Workers' Compensation Act

In the Workers' Compensation Regulation, Schedule "A" lists industries that are exempted from mandatory coverage. It lists 22 agriculture-related industries, ranging from animal breeding to fruit grower, to ranching.

Action Required: Remove listed industries from Schedule "A"
By Whom: Cabinet

 

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