British Columbia’s minimum piece rates for workers who hand-harvest 15 specified farm crops will increase 2.6 percent on Dec. 31, 2025.
The increase applies to workers harvesting peaches, apricots, brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries, as specified in the Employment Standards Regulation.
The adjustment is based on B.C.’s average annual inflation rate in 2024 and matches the 2.6 percent increase to the general minimum hourly wage that took effect June 1, 2025.
Annual increases tied to inflation
Following legislative changes to the Employment Standards Act in spring 2025, increases to the general minimum wage for piece rates will now take effect each year on Dec. 31, based on the previous year’s average inflation rate.
Each of the 15 hand-harvested crops has its own minimum pay rate under the system, which has been in place since 1981.
Previous adjustments
Farm-worker piece rates in B.C. increased 11.5 percent in January 2019 and 6.9 percent in December 2024.
The British Columbia Ministry of Labour announced the rate adjustment Dec. 30.
