WIREDGOV

Views sought on proposed increase.

A rise in the minimum wage rate for agricultural workers has been proposed by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB).

If approved, 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 are being sought on the proposed increase – which is in line with increases to the National Minimum Wage - by June 30, 2014.

It comes as the Scottish Government formally consults on the future of the SAWB.

The proposed 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.

Notes To Editors

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 Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949. It is an autonomous body and comprises 17 members, with six representing the interests of employers nominated by the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) and the Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), six members representing the interests of workers nominated by Unite the Union, and five independent members appointed by Scottish Ministers, one of whom is designated Chair.

Similar arrangements for determining minimum rates of pay and other conditions for agricultural workers exist in Northern Ireland and in Wales under different legislation.

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