In This Section
New regulations important step to protect farmworkers from employer abuse, says Sinclair, but they remain second-class citizens
May 3, 2007
Vancouver-New regulations to ensure more safety for BC farmworkers traveling to work on BC farms, announced today in Victoria, are an important first step to protect workers from employer abuse, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair, but more must be done to ensure agricultural workers are really safe and properly protected by employment standards.
"It is a tragic reality that it took the death of three workers in a highway accident to force government action," Sinclair said. "Today's announcement by Labour Minister, Olga Ilich, goes some way to ensuring more safety on the road and increased worksite inspections, but must be the first step of a complete overhaul of regulations to ensure BC's agriculture industry treats workers fairly."
Sinclair, who noted he will consult with the families of the workers who died in March's crash before making a complete evaluation of today's announcement, said the government appears to have implemented some, but not all, of the Federation's proposal for new regulations and proper enforcement. In particular, today's announcement ignores calls for improved employment standards to ensure farmworkers have access to basic rights such as minimum wage, overtime and vacation pay.
"This tragedy has shone a light once again on the exploitation of farmworkers by their employers, who have subsidized their profits by reducing safety and employment standards," Sinclair said.
"The agriculture industry can't wash their hands of their responsibility by just pointing the finger at labour contractors," added Sinclair.
He noted that while today's announcement referred to a strengthened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and the BC Agricultural Council, the provincial government ignored Federation recommendations to ensure farmworkers were included in any MOU and represented on any inter-agency committee.
To download a pdf copy of the Federation's 29 recommendations to improve farmworkers' safety and working conditions, click here.
-30-
For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-220-0739.
