Highlights of Bill 6 – Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act

 Announcements
Nov 282015
 

Highlights of Bill 6

Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act

Bill 6 is in the midst of being passed by the Alberta NDP government, the second reading was adjourned and will most likely occur on Monday November 30 2015.

Bill 6 itself is not very complex. It’s effect however is massive. It removes the exemptions from a number of Alberta Acts that the farming industry previously held.

The following is to help provide information with all the misinformation going around.

 

The major parts to Bill 6:

  • Mandatory WCB coverage for all farm and ranches as of January 1, 2016. There are four premium levels and yours will be determined by your type of operation. Lowest level would be operations like greenhouses to the highest level which include cattle and horse operations. It is important to note that your premium will be calculated not only on your actual employees earnings but the value of the work done by any volunteers or unpaid workers.
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulation will also come in effect as of January 1, 2016. OHS code will come into effect in 2017. The main aspect of OHS Act and Regulation is safety training on equipment, the use of proper personal protective equipment and proper handling and storage of chemicals. Occupational Exposure Limits will have to be followed as well.
  • Labour Code and Employment Standards. The basis of this is hours worked in a day, consecutive days worked as well as the ability to refuse unsafe work environments. Overtime, vacation pay and general holidays also fall under these.

The major contention with the legislation is how it will effect family farm operations. Things like family members working, children being allowed onto commercial property (this includes barn, fields and vehicles), as well as why farmers can’t choose to have private insurance for their workers.

No agriculture setting will be exempt anymore, even if you are self-employed you will need to follow the legislation.

 

For more information visit Work Alberta Farm And Ranch.

Farm and Ranch | Get involved

Your input matters. Make sure your voice is heard by joining in these discussions.

Farm and Ranch sessions

Albertans wishing to learn more, or to provide input into the proposed changes, are invited to attend public meetings. Input from these sessions will be used to inform farm and ranch legislative changes.

If the session you’re interested in attending is full, please consider attending a session in another location.

Waitlist

You can also email us to be added to a waitlist. We’ll continue to plan for additional sessions as needed, and will notify those on the waitlist if more sessions become available.

If you can’t attend a session, please consider filling out the online survey or sending us your thoughts by email.

Register for one of the sessions
  • Grande Prairie – November 26, 2015
  • Red Deer – December 1, 2015
  • Okotoks – December 2, 2015
  • Lethbridge – December 3, 2015
  • Medicine Hat – December 4, 2015
  • Leduc – December 7, 2015
  • Vegreville – December 8, 2015
  • Olds – December 9, 2015
  • Athabasca – December 14, 2015

Online survey

Your feedback is important. Fill in the online survey and let us know what you think about the proposed changes. The survey will be available until January 3, 2016.

Fill out the survey

Other ways to send feedback

Occupational Health and Safety, Employment Standards, Workers’ Compensation Board, and Labour Relations staff members are available to assist with any questions you might have. There are a number of ways to contact us:

 

There are multiple petitions being signed however the online ones will not hold up in the legislature. If you wish to sign the petition file: Pending

The rules must be strictly followed any slight deviation may make the whole thing void.

You can also contact your local MLA and send them your thoughts on Bill 6 Assembly Alberta

For any further information or if you require help with training and compliance contact robin@eliteinjury.com,

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.