Labour
In British Columbia, managing agricultural labour, health, and safety involves three key organizations that work together to support farmers and workers, especially those participating in foreign worker programs.
WALI (Western Agriculture Labour Initiative): Focuses on labour policy, recruitment, and advocacy. They help employers navigate the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP).
AgSafe BC: The non-profit health and safety association dedicated to the BC agriculture sector. They offer free health and safety training, on-site consultations, and mental health resources for employers and employees. They also developed the multilingual WorkWell App to aid in safety education.
WorkSafeBC: The provincial agency responsible for enforcing workplace health and safety regulations. They provide industry-specific safety guidelines and partner with AgSafe BC to deliver targeted educational programs and training.
Western Agriculture Labour Initiative
BC Agriculture Council, through a subsidiary company, Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI), works with employers, governments, and stakeholders to meet the growing challenge of finding farm workers and to improve working conditions.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program assists Canadian employers with labour requirements when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not available. The program ensures that Canadians have the first opportunity for jobs and that temporary foreign workers (TFWs) are protected while in Canada. Under the two most common programs used by farmers (SAWP and AgStream), employers must provide housing for workers.
WALI represents employers’ interests at the bi-national contract negotiations and assists employers in bringing temporary foreign workers to Canada. WALI also works with foreign governments to share information with Canadian authorities to advance the interests of employers and workers.
Please note that WALI is not staffed or licensed to assist individual employers with LMIA applications.
AgSafe BC
Contact AgSafe and book a walkthrough of your current Safety Program with a Field Representative in your area. If you need assistance with the templates or cannot find something that meets your organization's needs, AgSafe has representatives available throughout B.C. to assist with customizing something that works for you!
WorkSafeBC
Since 1917, WorkSafeBC has helped to improve the health and safety of British Columbians in the workplace by building a sustainable no-fault insurance system that supports both workers and employers now and for generations to come.
Working closely with our employer and industry partners, we promote a workplace culture of health and safety. We provide support for injured workers that facilitates their recovery and safe return to work. We continue to work toward our vision of a province free from workplace injury, disease, and death.