Insights and Stories on Employees

Food and beverage sector sees softening demand for workers

Dec. 30, 2024 at 12:50 pm CST

Job vacancies in food and beverage manufacturing fell to 2019 levels this year, but softening demand for workers isn’t necessarily a positive sign says Farm Credit Canada.

Canada’s jobs growth stalls in December as wages accelerate

Jan. 5, 2024 at 10:47 am CST

By Ismail Shakil Reuters Steve Scherer

Olymel bacon plant deal a ‘signal,’ union says

Jun. 20, 2023 at 8:31 pm CDT

By Dave Bedard

Elevators hope mandatory vaccination doesn’t disrupt operations

Dec. 10, 2021 at 7:42 pm CST

By Allan Dawson

Canada sees no beef shortage, but prices may rise due to coronavirus

Apr. 21, 2020 at 2:55 pm CDT

By Kelsey Johnson Rod Nickel

Increased federal support for TFWs welcomed

Apr. 14, 2020 at 5:39 pm CDT

Ottawa — The Canadian Horticultural Council says Monday’s federal announcement offering $50 million to help cover the extra costs associated with importing foreign workers this year is welcomed support. “We are finding that there are a lot of increased costs this year with COVID-19 and bringing in the employees, so […]

By D.C. Fraser

‘Elbow to elbow:’ North America’s meat plant workers fall ill, walk off jobs

Apr. 13, 2020 at 11:21 pm CDT

Chicago/Winnipeg | Reuters — At a Wayne Farms chicken processing plant in Alabama, workers recently had to pay the company 10 U.S. cents a day to buy masks to protect themselves from the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to a meat inspector. In Colorado, nearly a third of the workers at a […]

By Rod Nickel Tom Polansek

Federal government to backstop TFW isolation with funding

Apr. 13, 2020 at 1:43 pm CDT

Farming and agrifood employers bringing temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to Canada will get per-worker support to make sure those employees can self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Monday announced up to $50 million for such employers to put such measures in place. As part of […]

By GFM Staff

Smithfield shuts South Dakota pork plant over COVID-19

Apr. 9, 2020 at 12:59 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, is temporarily closing a massive plant at Sioux Falls, S.D., the company said Thursday, after more than 80 workers there tested positive for coronavirus. The shutdown is the latest disruption to the U.S. food supply chain from the pandemic […]

By Reuters

Farming deemed essential in new federal pandemic guidance

Apr. 2, 2020 at 3:29 pm CDT

Workers in agriculture and supporting industries are on a new federal guidance list of employees considered “essential to maintain the health, safety, security and economic well-being of Canadians” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair on Thursday released a new guidance document, “Guidance on Essential Services and […]