COVID-19 remains a public health threat. Mandatory measures are in effect provincewide.
Basic rules
Alberta law requires government to publish the following information about variances or exemptions issued by Employment Standards after January 1, 2018:
- the name of the employer association or employers in a group
- the provisions of the Employment Standards Code or Regulation that were varied or exempted
- the effective date and duration of the variance or exemption
Apply and learn more about employment standards Ministerial Orders to vary or exempt.
Ministerial Orders revoked
Government has revoked a number of Ministerial Orders because they are now addressed in legislation.
Learn more about exceptions for specific industries outlined in the Employment Standards Regulation.
Table 1. Revoked orders
| Group or association | Provision(s) revoked | Revocation date |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (PDF, 1.5 MB) | Hours of work confined, days of rest | January 20, 2020 |
| Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (PDF, 568 KB) | Hours of work confined | January 20, 2020 |
| Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (PDF, 592 KB) | Hours of work confined | January 20, 2020 |
| Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (PDF, 540 KB) | Overtime hours | February 20, 2020 |
| Mushrooms Canada (PDF, 210 KB) | Hours of work confined, overtime hours, notice of work times | February 20, 2020 |
Ministerial Orders issued
Table 2. Issued orders
| Group or association | Provision varied | Effective date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (PDF, 398 KB) | Overtime hours | June 12, 2018 | Revoked |
| Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services (PDF, 1 MB) | Hours of work confined | March 11, 2019 | March 10, 2021 |
| Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | September 12, 2020 | Expired |
| Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | December 31, 2020 | April 1, 2021 |
| Alberta Roadbuilders And Heavy Construction Association (PDF, 1.3 MB) | Hours of work confined, days of rest | October 25, 2018 | Revoked |
| Alberta School Boards Association (PDF, 415 KB) | Employment for less than 3 hours | January 14, 2019 | January 13, 2021 |
| Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) | Overtime hours and pay | See order | See order |
| Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association (BLLHA) | Board and lodging deductions | October 20, 2020 | October 20, 2022 |
| Calgary Hotel Association | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | September 12, 2020 | Expired |
| Calgary Hotel Association | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | December 22, 2020 | April 1, 2021 |
| Canadian Association Of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (PDF, 382 KB) | Hours of work confined | June 28, 2018 | Revoked |
| Canadian Association Of Petroleum Producers (PDF, 408 KB) | Hours of work confined | January 1, 2018 | Revoked |
| Canadian Association Of Petroleum Producers (PDF, 1.5 MB) | Payment of wages, overtime pay and general holiday pay | January 1, 2019 | Expired |
| Canadian Association Of Petroleum Producers | Payment of wages, overtime pay and general holiday pay | January 1, 2021 | December 31, 2023 |
| City of Edmonton | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | October 8, 2020 | Expired |
| City of St. Albert (PDF, 421 KB) | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | August 14, 2020 | Expired |
| Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada (Salvation Army, Fort McMurray Corps) | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | November 14, 2020 | Expired |
| Imperial Oil Resources Limited (PDF, 325 KB) | Hours of work averaging agreements - averaging periods and work schedules | August 14, 2020 | Expired |
| Merit Contractors Association (PDF, 2 MB) | Hours of work confined | June 12, 2019 | June 11, 2021 |
| Mushrooms Canada (PDF, 70 KB) | Hours of work confined, overtime hours, notice of work times | August 14, 2019 | Revoked |
| The Ukrainian Orthodox Parish of St. John | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | December 22, 2020 | April 1, 2021 |
| Trico Centre for Family Wellness (PDF, 211 KB) | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | August 14, 2020 | Expired |
| Vision Travel DT Ontario-West Inc. (Vision Travel) | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | December 22, 2020 | April 1, 2021 |
| West Edmonton Mall Property Inc. and 846396 Alberta Ltd. | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | December 22, 2020 | April 1, 2021 |
| YMCA of Alberta (PDF, 142 KB) | Termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID-19 | August 14, 2020 | Expired |
How the law applies
Section 136.1 of the Employment Standards Code and Section 63.3 of the Employment Standards Regulation outline the publication of variances, exemptions and orders.
Disclaimer: In the event of any discrepancy between this information and Alberta Employment Standards legislation, the legislation is considered correct.