Agricultural Wages

In the last Bulletin we stated that the Regulatory Reform Act will abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) in England and Wales from the 1^st October this year.  However, the Welsh Government has recently launched a consultation on the issue, see –  http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/future-of-agricultural-wages-board/;jsessionid=CA4F901881591E41EA318A867CEB3E2B?lang=en.  This is asking if Wales should accept the loss of the Wages Board.  Two alternative options are given – legislate to re-instate the AWB on a Wales-only basis, or create a non-statutory advisory board to provide guidance on wages and other employment issues.  Consultation responses are required by the 26^th June.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has no plans to dissolve the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.  In fact, the Board has just issued its recommendations for rates from the 1^st October 2013.  The basic payment will rise by 1.9% (13p per hour) to £6.99 per hour.  The increases are due to be confirmed at the next Board meeting on 21^st August.