Workforce contacts and employer resources

Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act

• Provides a framework for the apprenticeship and industry training system, and regulates who can work in compulsory certification trades.

Employer Compliance

• Sets specific requirements to hire foreign workers to ensure their workers continue to uphold Temporary Foreign Worker Program conditions.

Employment Standards Code and Regulation

• Ensures worksites are fair and equal. There is a set of laws and regulations that most employers must abide by including hours of work, minimum wage, holiday pay and overtime hours.

Human Rights Act

• Ensures workplaces are free from discrimination in all aspects of the employment process, including recruitment, promotions, assignments and termination of employment.

Labour Relations Code

• Explains Alberta labour relations legislation, includes specific resources for certain sectors.

Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Code

• A list of laws governing health and safety in Alberta’s workplaces.

Personal Information Protection Act

• The laws surrounding the use and disclosure of personal information.

Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act

• A list of laws on tobacco use in and around the workplace.

Workers’ Compensation Act

• Describes the policies and procedures for employers dealing with workplace injuries.

Federal laws, regulations and codes

Occupations in the following areas fall under federal jurisdiction and are not covered by Alberta’s Employment Standards Code:

• interprovincial trucking
• federal Crown corporations
• broadcasting
• chartered banks
• grain elevators
• air transport
• feed and feed mills
• federal government employees
• rail and water transport
• interprovincial pipelines
• work directly with or on behalf of First Nations

The following resources can provide more information on occupational health and safety standards for these federally covered areas:

• Canada Labour Code, Part II (occupational health and safety)
• Canada Labour Code, Part III (labour standards)
• Canadian Human Rights Act

Additional information

• Canada Revenue Agency
• Service Canada (Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance)
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Government of Alberta programs

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.

Government of Canada programs

The Government of Canada has several wage subsides and assistance programs to help employers hire and retain employees.

Canada Summer Jobs helps employers create summer job opportunities for full time students between the ages of 15 and 30 years old.

Career Focus Green Jobs is a wage subsidy program for employment opportunities that have an environmental focus. A $13,500 maximum wage subsidy helps employers hire talented graduates.

Additional resources

Workforce information email subscription service

Subscribe to get with more information and resources to help with your workforce needs. Topics include:

• planning your workforce
• labour information and how to use it
• recruiting new workers from various labour pools
• recognizing foreign and domestic qualifications
• changes and updates to employer programs and services
• retaining your employees through development and training programs