Fruit pickers in British Columbia are set to receive a 2.6% pay raise for harvesting 15 different crops, effective as of December 31st. This increase, announced last February, aligns with the general minimum wage hike across the province. To avoid disrupting the harvesting season, the raise was delayed until June 1st.
Deep Brar, Vice President of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association, acknowledges the financial challenges this change poses for employers already grappling with expenses. The adjustment impacts the minimum piece rate, with rates like cherries now priced at $0.325 per pound.
Brar highlights the importance of incentivizing pickers to work efficiently, emphasizing that faster picking can lead to higher earnings for workers. Despite offering wages above the regulated averages on his Summerland farm, Brar struggles to find enough labor for hand harvesting, resulting in significant crop losses.
With a reliance on approximately 80 temporary foreign workers each season, Brar emphasizes the difficulty in recruiting local harvesters, even when offering competitive wages. Looking ahead, he remains determined to persevere through the challenges of the upcoming season.