The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body established under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 for the purpose of setting minimum wages and other conditions of service for agricultural workers.
Membership of the SAWB consists of 5 independent members who hear from representatives for employees and employers and each year to review changes to the existing Order. There are 5 representatives from NFU Scotland and 1 representative from Scottish Land & Estates on the employer’s side. The Board meet twice a year to make changes to the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order.
The most important notes include:
Agricultural Wages as of 1 April 2023
1. The Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (No. 70) 2023 came into effect on 1st April 2023. The headline changes include:
- The minimum hourly rate for all agricultural workers, irrespective of age and duties is £10.42. This is equal to the UK Government’s 2023 National Living Wage hourly rate.
- A minimum hourly rate of £6.53 for workers who undertake an SCQF Level 4 or 5 or equivalent in Agriculture/Horticulture.
- Dog allowance is £8.00 per week for each dog up to a maximum of 4.
- The additional sum payable to workers with appropriate qualifications will be £1.55.
- The daily rate of the accommodation off-set for accommodation other than a house is £9.50. No change has been made to the offset rate for houses, which remains at £1 per week.
- No change has been made to the calculation for overtime. Due to the changes to the base minimum rate, the minimum hourly overtime rate for all workers is £15.63. This is calculated using minimum wage (10.42) x 1.5.
- There are no changes to Sick Pay entitlements, holiday and bereavement leave.
- All other benefits and conditions contained within the wages order can be found here.
Seasonal Workers