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Agriculture Inter-Agency Committee Highlights

The Agriculture Inter-Agency Committee is a co-operative effort of the Ministry of Labour (Employment Standards Branch); WorkSafeBC; the Ministry of Transportation (Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement); the Ministry of Agriculture: and the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC).

The mandate of the committee is to provide leadership and a forum for co-ordination and collaboration in enforcement activities between the agencies where appropriate. The goal is to ensure that farm labour contractors are compliant with regulatory requirements in order to protect the rights and safety of farm workers.

For more background information refer to Terms of Reference at www.gov.bc.ca/farmworkers.

Vehicle Inspections

The committee conducts random roadside inspections of farm worker transport vehicles as part of its mandate to integrate government’s approach to farm worker safety. These inspections are in addition to annual maintenance inspections that continue to remain mandatory for commercial farm vehicles.

Vehicle compliance rates increased dramatically after the committee’s formal program of inspections began in 2007. The improvement has been sustained with approximately 90 per cent of inspected vehicles achieving full compliance over the past five years.

In 2007, the committee directed that an intensive series of random roadside inspections be performed. Those initial activities examined 522 vehicles. Of these, 155 vehicles or 30 per cent, failed to pass inspection.

In 2008, government enforcement staff conducted 247 vehicle inspections during the harvest season (when most farm workers were employed), in order to ensure ongoing compliance. Of these, 30 vehicles or 12 per cent, failed to pass.

In 2009, 235 vehicles were inspected, with 24 vehicles or 10 per cent failing to pass inspection.

In 2010, 265 vehicles were inspected, with 32 vehicles or 12 per cent failing to pass inspection.

In 2011, 209 vehicles were inspected, with 27 vehicles or 13 per cent failing to pass inspection.

WorkSafeBC and Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement have also created a standardized inspection sheet for vehicle owners and drivers. This checklist allows drivers to quickly verify listed safety items prior to each trip to help ensure compliance with regulations.

Education Activities

In 2007, the Agriculture Inter-Agency Committee discovered that driver feedback during inspections revealed a lack of knowledge about the requirements for passing inspection. As a result, the committee increased its focus on educational activities to help boost compliance rates.

In 2008, the Employment Standards Branch conducted nine farm worker education sessions through the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) that attracted 168 attendees.

In 2009, 10 farm worker education sessions were delivered to more than 160 attendees through PICS.

In 2010, eight education sessions were delivered to 175 attendees through PICS and a session for 15 attendees was held at Abbottsford Community Services.

In 2011, 12 education sessions were delivered to 214 attendees through PICS and a session for 20 attendees was held at Abbottsford Community Services.

Enforcement Activities

Since 2007, there has been a significant increase in compliance rates for farm vehicles which has resulted in a decrease in the number and value of fines and penalties being issued. The consistent improvement in compliance rates year over year can be attributed to a regime of random vehicles inspections, co-ordinated enforcement, and a series of education sessions for both workers and employers concerning rights and responsibilities.

In 2007, roadside checks resulted in WorkSafeBC issuing 224 compliance orders. The fines for these totalled $125,096.

In 2008, roadside checks resulted in WorkSafeBC issuing 71 compliance orders. The fines for these totalled $27,207.

In 2009, roadside checks resulted in WorkSafeBC issuing 143 compliance orders. The fines for these totalled $34,659.

In 2010, roadside checks resulted in WorkSafeBC issuing 135 compliance orders. The fines for these totalled $24,932.

In 2011, roadside checks resulted in WorkSafeBC issuing 61 compliance orders. The fines for these totalled $179,463.84.

Employment Standards Branch

The Employment Standards Branch continues to visit work sites, conduct audits and investigate farm workers’ complaints concerning failure to pay wages appropriately.

For a detailed breakdown, refer to Statistics at www.gov.bc.ca/farmworkers.

Posted: March 14, 2012