Effective January 1, 2023, the minimum piece work wages for workers who hand-harvest crops in British Columbia will increase by 2.8 per cent.

The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, as specified in the employment standards regulation, including peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.

The change is based on B.C.’s average annual inflation rate in 2021 and is consistent with the 2.8 per cent increase to the minimum hourly wage that came into effect on June 1, 2022. That rate is $15.65 per hour.

Some examples of piece rates are:  

-  Apples – $21.65 a bin

-  Apricots – $24.91 a half-bin

-  Beans – $0.297 a pound / $0.655 a kg

-  Blueberries – $0.502 a pound / $1.107 a kg

-  Brussels sprouts – $0.207 a pound / $0.456 a kg

Source: British Columbia government December 29, 2022 news release