Labour
If you need help with …
Start here:
TFWP / SAWP / AgStream policy and employer advocacy
Health & Safety program templates or farm walkthroughs
Regulatory requirements, injury prevention, claims, inspections
Domestic labour research and regional labour strategy
Vineyard training, research, best practices, events
Sustainability certification and employee handbook template
Wine industry job postings
HR for Agriculture Employers (AgHR)
Build stronger workforce systems for your vineyard. Access HR tools, templates, policies, and workforce management resources designed specifically for agricultural employers.
Student Work Placement Program
Bring new talent into your operation. Wage support for hiring post-secondary students and developing future agricultural professionals.
Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary
Support students while addressing labour shortages. Encourages students to gain agricultural experience while helping growers meet seasonal labour demands.
Labour & Workforce Resources for BC Grape Growers
Finding, training, and retaining reliable vineyard labour is one of the most important issues facing BC grape growers.
BCGA connects growers with practical resources for recruitment, health and safety, worker housing, training, employment standards, and workforce advocacy. Labour issues affect every part of vineyard operations from pruning and canopy work to harvest, equipment use, worker safety, and long-term farm viability. BCGA works with industry partners to help growers access current information and ensure grape grower perspectives are included in regional and provincial labour discussions.
Recruitment & Job Postings
Growers looking for workers can use BCGA’s Job Listings as well as wine industry job postings at Wine Growers BC.
Employer Tools & Templates
Employers can strengthen their labour practices by using clear onboarding materials, employee handbooks, workplace policies, safety checklists, and training records. Sustainable Winegrowing BC and AgSafe BC Vineyard Safety Program Resources provide a variety of templates and guidance materials that can help vineyard employers establish effective workforce systems.
BCGA Labour Advocacy
BCGA works with labour, research, sustainability, and industry partners to ensure grape grower perspectives are represented in workforce discussions affecting the BC grape and wine sector. Through participation in industry committees and collaborative initiatives, BCGA supports practical labour solutions for growers.
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.