Ministry of Agriculture and Food response to communicable disease
Last updated on July 17, 2025Agriculture, food and seafood sectors can find information on how to make communicable disease plans and establish protocols to operate within public health and safety guidelines.
Agriculture, food and seafood sector guidance
WorkSafeBC and the ministry work with industry associations to ensure the direction and guidance they provide meets the requirements set out by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO).
Individual businesses will need to ensure their own plans align with these health and safety requirements.
General resources
- Find resources and information at WorkSafeBC's working safely in agriculture
- Call WorkSafe BC at 1-888-621-SAFE about making an exposure plan
Labour and employment resources
AgSafe BC
AgSafe BC's emergency planning resources help agricultural employers build their Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program for emergencies. Employers are encouraged to customize these documents to fit their individual operation’s needs when building or enhancing their OHS program.
AgSafe BC also provides industry specific resources, programs, education, training and consultation to support safe and healthy work environments in agriculture in all regions of the province.
B.C. Farm, Fish and Food Job Connector
The new B.C. Farm, Fish and Food Job Connector showcases the current job vacancies throughout the province, including those for:
- Crop and seafood harvesters
- Food processing and farmworkers
- Agrologists
- Large machinery operators
- Marketing specialists
The website also has sector specific information and guidance to support businesses as they adapt their recruitment and human resource management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find or post job opportunities in more than 30 communities in the Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island as well as in the Kootenays, Cariboo and Northern B.C.
Evacuation alerts and orders
Information for farm workers residing onsite: Evacuation alerts and evacuation orders (PDF, 142KB) was developed through a multi-agency partnership in August 2021. It outlines the expectations of agricultural employers and workers during evacuation alerts and orders.
Migrant workers rights, protections and support
All workers, regardless of their immigration status, are covered by the BC Employment Standards Act and have the right to a safe work and living environment in B.C.
There are social service and employment agencies provincially and regionally that provide resources and supports for migrant workers and employers of migrant workers.
The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) is a digital resource centre with tools and information to strengthen the knowledge and capacity to support migrant workers in B.C. This includes interest holder resources and training for:
- Resettlement
- Immigration
- Diversity and inclusion
The Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI) has resources and information available for employers hosting temporary foreign workers in the agriculture sector.