Labour

2010 BCFGA Labour Initiatives

BCFGA Summer Labour Project

The purpose of the project, which is staffed by two summer students from May 15 to August 31, is to

  • Provide orientation workshops in French and English for new workers.  The workshops include ladder safety, heat stress and safe drinking water, what to do if injured, what to expect, what are current employment standards in BC, how to thin apples and pick cherries efficiently, harassment law and what to do, where camping is available, transportation, and other useful information for newly arrived pickers.
  • Provide an exchange of job postings between employment services, as well as maintain a job board, and communicate between the offices about the labour needs in different areas of the Okanagan-Similkameen.
  • Provide guides and pamphlets of the above information to workers.
  • Survey workers and growers about work conditions and labour supply.

Ask new workers for the BCFGA Orientation card, issued to workers who complete the training.  If the workers do not have orientation, you may direct them to us to attend a session or even arrange for a session on your farm.  Contact Ron Forrest (250-859-3354).

Seasonal Agricutlure Worker Program (SAWP) - Mexican and Caribbean workers

For growers who demonstrate a shortage of workers (through advertising), temporary foreign workers from Mexico and the Caribbean are available.  A self-help information kit is available to BCFGA members, as well as a service ($45 per worker) for those growers who want additional help in filling out forms and follow-up with the government agencies.

NOTE:

The minimum SAWP wage for 2010 is $9.14 plus the 4% vacation pay.

Interested growers should contact Elaine Miedema, Members Services Coordinator, at (250) 762-5226 ex 21

Information on the SAWP progam from the Mexican government is available:

 2010 Best Practices for SAWP

Western Agriculture Labour Initiative

Website

WorkSafe BC

Website

BC Agriculture Labour Market and Skills Development Initiatives

Website

 

 

Contact Us

Hours: 9am - 4pm weekdays.
1473 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J6

t: 250-762-5226
f: 250-861-9089
e: info@bcfga.com