Agri workers in line for 1.8% pay rise

Editorial Department • Published 4 Mar 2010 13:49 0 Comments

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Agricultural workers are in line to get a 1.8% increase in their pay from April 5 this year, the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland (AWB) has announced.

The proposed new rates are:

Minimum Rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment - £5.90 per hour.

Grade 2 - Standard worker - £6.25 per hour

Grade 3 - Lead worker - £6.86 per hour

Grade 4 - Craft Grade - £7.37 per hour

Grade 5 - Supervisory Grade - £7.81 per hour

Grade 6 - Farm Management Grade - £8.44 per hour

The Board will meet again on March 15 2010 to consider any objections to the proposals and may make an Order to give effect to the new rates and other amendments which would come into operation on April 5 2010.

Any objections to the above proposals should be sent by Registered Post to: The Secretary, Agricultural Wages Board, Room 916, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SB, to arrive on or before March 12 2010.

The Definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade are available on : http://www.dardni.gov.uk/enforcement-awb or by contacting the Agricultural Wages Secretariat, Room 910, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SB, Tel: 028 9052 0813 or Fax: 028 9052 4266.

The Ulster Farmers' Union has questioned the need for an Agricultural Wage Board (AWB) for Northern Ireland. The UFU comments follow AWB's proposed 1.8% increase to minimum wage rates for agricultural workers.

UFU spokesperson Robert McCloy, Chairman of the Employers Representatives on the AWB, said,"The UFU has stated valid reasons as to why the AWB should be removed. Since the National Minimum Wage was introduced in 1999, we can see no reason why a separate piece of legislation is needed for the farming industry. We fully support the objective that employees on farms should be appropriately paid, but we also believe there is no justification for separate rules for the agriculture sector."

"We believe employers should be free to set their own wage levels that are suitable in a competitive market place. In order to attract high calibre workers, the agricultural industry must offer good pay and conditions. The National Minimum Wage, the Working Time Directive and a plethora of other employment laws now provide significant protection for employees and the vast majority of farm workers are paid well above the minimum agricultural rates set by the Board."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Mar 10

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