This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Wage increase for agricultural workers
19/08/2004
The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has made the
following proposals to take effect from January 1, 2005.
This follows the pay claim submitted by the workers'
representative members on August 17, 2004.
The Board's proposals will increase most rates by 5% and
others by more to comply with changes to the National
Minimum Wage rates.
The new minimum rates of pay for adult workers aged 19
and over payable for the first 39 hours per week will
be:
· £4.85 per hour for those in the first 10 weeks
of employment,
· £5.25 per hour for those employed for more than
10 weeks with the same employer.
The additional sum payable to workers with appropriate
qualifications will be 79p per hour.
Proportionate increases will be made in other current
rates including the Dog Allowance which will be increased
by five per cent to £3.99 per week for each of up to four
dogs.
The conserved minimum hourly overtime rates payable to
those employed on or before 31 December 2003 will cease to
have effect on January 1, 2005.
The Board's proposals will be advertised in detail
during week beginning August 30, 2004.
The closing date by which written representations must
be received is September 20, 2004.
The Board will meet again on October 5, 2004 to consider
representations and, if it so decides, will make an Order
giving effect to its proposals.
Rates fromOctober 1, 2004
As a consequence of the changes due to take place in the
National Minimum Wage rates from October 1, 2004, the Board
agreed that the following amendments be made to the current
Order No 51 with effect from October 1, 2004 for
agricultural workers aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 and over
in the first 10 weeks of employment:
For agricultural workers aged 16 the current rate is
£2.25 and the revised rate will be £3.00. For 17 year old
the current rate is £2.63 and revised rate will be £3.00.
For 18 year olds the current rate is £3.88 and the revised
rate will be £4.10. £4.55 is the current rate for 19 year
olds and above and this will be increased to £4.85.
For agricultural workers under the age of 16 the current
rate is £1.86. From January 1, 2005 the revised rate will
be £1.95.
The Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949, as amended
to take account of National Minimum Wage legislation, does
not allow for any minimum hourly rate of pay to be fixed
for agricultural workers which is less than the
corresponding NMW rate.
The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is constituted
under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949. It is an
autonomous body and comprises 17 members, six representing
the interests of employers nominated by the NFU Scotland
and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association,
six representing the interests of workers nominated by the
T&G Scotland, and five independent members appointed by
Scottish Ministers, one of whom is designated Chairman.