View on increase and Board future being sought

NFU Scotland believes the proposed rise in the minimum wage rate for agricultural workers recognises the difficulties being encountered across all agricultural sectors.

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) has proposed that the minimum rate of pay for agricultural workers with more than 26 weeks continuous employment will increase by 10p per hour to £7.24 from October 1, 2015 - bringing the minimum wage for a 39 hour week to £282.36.

Views on the proposed increase are required before 30 June 2015. The proposals on new wage rates come as the Scottish Government formally consults on the future of the SAWB.

The Union will discuss with its membership both the proposed increase and the role of the SAWB.  In previous consultations regarding the wages board, NFUS has supported its abolition in favour of the industry adopting more modern employment legislation such as the Working Time Directive and the National Minimum Wage.

NFU Scotland’s Chief Executive Scott Walker, who sits on the SAWB, said: “I believe the Wages Board has recognised the difficulties facing all agricultural sectors in proposing the minimum rate of pay for agricultural workers to apply from October.   

“We were successful in getting the Board to keep the increase proposed for the minimum agricultural rate in line with the increase set for the national minimum wage.  For employees who have been with the same employer for more than 26 weeks, the proposed increase is 1.4 percent.   

 “We are also pleased that the Board accepted our arguments and are proposing that from October 2015 the offset rate for accommodation (other than a house) will be set at £5.35.  This is equal to the rate under national minimum wage rules.

“In another welcome move, the Board have agreed to set up an ad hoc group to consider how overtime rates are impacting on sectors such as soft fruit where a significant number of staff are employed on a seasonal basis.

“All proposed changes will be confirmed at a meeting of the SAWB later this year.   We encourage farmers and growers to write to the Board to let them know what they think about the proposed rates.

“At the same time, the future of the SAWB is again being reviewed.   The Union’s view is that the agricultural wages board was designed for significantly different times in farming.  It served a useful role in the past but has now fulfilled its purpose and is no longer needed.

“Modern employment legislation such as the Working Time Directive and the National Minimum Wage cover all other sectors of industry in Scotland and will provide the appropriate safeguards and framework for farm workers. This is already the case in England and there is no justification for the rules to be different here.  

“When last consulted on the issue, our membership queried the relevance of the wages board in this day and age. We will go back to our membership across all sectors in the coming weeks and gauge whether that opinion has changed.”

Notes to Editors

• The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has proposed that, from October, the headline minimum hourly rates are: 
  • £6.70 for all workers in the first 26 weeks of employment.  This increase of 20p per hour is in line with increases to the National Minimum Wage. For overtime, the minimum hourly rate should rise to £10.05 (an increase of 30p per hour)
  • £7.24 (an increase of 10p per hour) for all workers employed for more than 26 weeks by the same employer. For overtime, the minimum hourly rate should rise to £10.86 (an increase of 15p per hour)
  • £4.02 (an increase of 6p per hour) for workers who undertake a Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture
  • An additional £1.10 per hour (an increase of 2p per hour) for those workers with appropriate qualifications
  • Those working with dogs should receive an allowance of £5.49 per week for each dog (an increase of 8p per dog) up to a maximum of four dogs. The daily rate of the accommodation, off-set for accommodation other than a house, should rise to £5.35 per day (an increase of 34p per day) which is in line with the National Minimum Wage rate.
• Written representations on the minimum agricultural wage proposals must be sent to the Secretary of the Wages Board at SAWB by June 30, 2015: Secretary: Ken Gray, D Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD. Tel No: 0131 244 9749; E-mail sawb@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
• The Board will meet again on August 26, 2015 to consider any representations received and, if it so decides, will make an Order giving effect to its proposals from 1 October 2015.
• The consultation on the future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board runs until July 31, 2015 and can be accessed via http://www.gov.scot/Consultations/Current

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006