Home Sections Food Supply Farm workers 2023 minimum wage increase underscores food security

Farm workers 2023 minimum wage increase underscores food security

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The minimum wage increase for agricultural piece rates is 2.8% starting Jan 1, 2023. The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, as specified in the employment standards regulation, including peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries. [Info: BC Ministry of Labour]
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Friday December 30, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends


Farm workers and producers are reminded today by the BC Ministry of Labour that the minimum wage for agricultural piece rates will increase by 2.8% on Sunday January 1, 2023.

The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, as specified in the employment standards regulation, including peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.

The increase is based on BC’s average annual inflation rate in 2021 and is consistent with the 2.8% increase to the minimum hourly wage that came into effect on June 1, 2022.

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Pay rates by category:

Piece rate farm workers harvest crops, such as blueberries and mushrooms, by hand. Each of the 15 crops has its own minimum pay rate. | See: BC’s piece rate categories and information on employment standards for farm workers

Pay rates over the years:

Farm worker piece rates in BC were previously increased by 11.5% in January 2019. BC’s farm worker minimum piece rate system has been in place for more than 40 years, established in 1981.

BC food security:

BC-grown food is a key part of food sustainability for residents of this province, within an overall view to food security.

Here on Vancouver Island, only about three percent of food consumed has been grown on the island. This makes islanders almost entirely dependent on transportation networks including commercial trucking, ferries, and air cargo handling.

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Editor and publisher: Mary P Brooke | ARCHIVES: FOOD SECURITY | VANCOUVER ISLAND | TRANSPORTATION