Ministry of Agriculture and Food response to communicable disease

AgSafe BC has developed templates to assist agricultural employers in building their Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program and meeting provincial COVID-19 requirements. Employers are encouraged to customize these documents to fit their individual operation’s needs when building or enhancing their OHS program.

Additionally, AgSafe BC provides industry specific resources, programs, education, training and consultation to support safe and healthy work environments in agriculture in all regions of the province.

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.

The B.C. Farm Worker Safe Isolation Program provides reimbursement to eligible agriculture employer applicants for eligible costs related to farm workers who are required to self-isolate in accordance with the B.C. Provincial Health Officer’s COVID-19 orders or the direction of a Health Authority.

Determine your eligibility and how to apply for reimbursement under the B.C. Farm Worker Safe Isolation Program.

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council have a dedicated webpage with the latest information, recommendations, employee management tips, and tools. 

These will help you respond to the pandemic and limit the impact and spread of communicable disease within your business. Up to date information on temporary foreign workers and best practices for labour during times of disruption is also available. 

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.

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. 

Work BC provides detailed information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program including the rights and responsibilities of employers and the rights of temporary foreign workers 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 provincial organization AMSSA (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC) provides resources and training related to (re)settlement and immigration, migrant workers, and diversity and inclusion for workplaces.

AMSSA’s Migrant Worker Hub is a digital resource centre with tools and information to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of individuals, employers, unions, professional associations, and organizations supporting migrant workers in B.C.

The Migrant Worker Support Network, launched during 2018 in B.C. and funded by the federal government, is providing funding to non-profit agencies in B.C. to support migrant workers in understanding and exercising their rights, and to support employers in understanding the requirements and the conditions of the TFW Program. Resources are available to support employers working with temporary foreign workers in B.C.

All temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in the agricultural, food and seafood sectors arriving to work in B.C. and who are not fully vaccinated are required to quarantine for 14 days.

As of March 16, 2022, provision of adequate quarantine accommodations, food and support will be the responsibility of the employer.

Operators must ensure a safe workplace and accommodations and follow the Ministry of Health’s requirements to protect themselves and their workers from communicable disease, including having a COVID-19 safety plan and/or a communicable disease plan, as required.

Operators that employ temporary foreign workers must apply for permission from the Province to receive temporary foreign workers and employers must implement measures to protect workers.

Review quarantine requirements for agricultural TFWs.

The Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI) has resources and information available for employers hosting temporary foreign workers in the agriculture sector.