WCB claims for farm workers more than double since Bill 6
Medicine Hat, AB — It spurred protests across the province. Now a year after the controversial farm safety legislation went into effect, worker’s compensation claims for farm workers in Alberta have more than doubled.
At the Cypress Centre in December 2015 hundreds gathered to voice their concern over Bill 6, as farmers were concerned their livelihood was at stake, and the future of the family farm was in jeopardy. A year after the bill became law, farm injury claims totaled 793 compared to 339 for the year before. According to Farmworkers Union of Alberta President Eric Musekamp, the jump illustrates why the legislation was necessary.
“It indicates that there was a need and that there is a lot of injuries on farms and ranches,” said Musekamp. “So we’re very pleased to see so many workers and their employers protected by WCB.”