Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is again offering the Summer Farm Employment Program.
ìIf full-time farmers are thinking about hiring a student for summer employment, now is the time to apply,î said Tricia Simon, communications coordinator at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre in Stettler.
ìThe program gives Albertaís youth the opportunity to gain farm work experience and provides wage support to farmers for the months of July and August. Alberta Agriculture provides wage support to a maximum of $400 per month as well as workersí compensation coverage and safety training information.î
To qualify, prospective employers must own or rent a farming operation in Alberta with gross production of $25,000 per year and work must be directly related to the farming operation. This does not include domestic work or child care.
Employers must recruit their own employee, provide daily supervision and ensure safe working conditions for their employee. Monthly records of time worked must be completed by the employer. Employees are paid by the farmer and by the government for each respective part of their salary, which must meet provincial minimum hourly rate.
ìEmployees must be residents of Alberta, between 15 and 24 years of age and cannot be a direct relative of the employee,î Simon said.
Employees must not be working full time anywhere else or attending school while participating in the program. If they have been working full time prior to July 1 for the employer, they are not eligible for the program. Employees require a social insurance number in order to receive payment under this program.
ìFarm safety is an emphasis in this program and all summer farm employers and employees are required to review a safety CD together,î Simon said. ìEmployees must complete and pass a safety quiz based on the CD information in order to be accepted into the program.î
Application forms and detailed information are available on the Alberta Agriculture website at www.agriculture.alberta.ca
ìApplications are processed on a first come, first served basis,î added Simon.
ìApplications can be printed from the website or obtained by calling the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).î
The deadline for applying is May 31, and the application must be signed by both employee and employer.
