Agriculture Wages Rates in Wales

22 March 2024

This article provides an update on statutory minimum agricultural wage rates for employees in Wales from the 1 April 2024.

Background

The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2024 comes into force from 1 April 2024 replacing the Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2023 and increases the minimum wage rates and allowances.

The key points to note within the 2024 Order are:-

An increase in minimum pay rates for all grades (this is linked to increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage announced in the UK Government’s Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023).
From April 2024 the National Living Wage will be extended to 21 and 22 year olds. The age bands of the Order have been amended accordingly and the 23 years+ age bands have been removed.
Increases to all allowances under the Order of 8.5%.
Amends the overtime rates of pay to be payable by reference to the agricultural worker’s actual hourly rates of pay, rather than the minimum hourly rate of pay prescribed within the Order.

All employed agricultural, horticultural and forestry workers in Wales, including workers employed by gang masters and employment agencies, are entitled to at least the Agricultural Minimum Wage.

Minimum rates of pay from 1 April 2024

The minimum rates of pay for Agricultural workers from 1 April 2024 are as follows:

Apprenticeship Rates

NFU Cymru position

What is the NFU Cymru position on the Agricultural Advisory Panel in Wales and the setting of minimum wage rates?

We believe the role of a wages board / panel in setting wage rates is obsolete as a result of developments such as the National Minimum Wage, National Living Wage, Working Time Regulations, and other legislative safeguards. Our view is that the additional complexity of a wages order is not required in Wales.

However, that has not stopped us working alongside the FUW to design proposals to modernise and simplify the grading structure for agricultural workers in Wales. The current grading structure agreed as part of the 2022 Order is far more relevant to the nature of agricultural work and qualifications that are available today compared to the previous grading structure.

The Farming Unions ensure that the interests of farming businesses are represented at meetings of the agricultural advisory panel and the subcommittee that deals with skills. Ahead of annual wage negotiations, normally held in September, the Unions make detailed written submissions and subsequently make representations to the panel alongside Unite who represent employees at the negotiations.

Further information

The Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2024, including all the minimum wage rates including apprentice rates and allowances alongside detailed guidance on the changes to the minimum terms and conditions and new rates and allowances can be found at www.gov.wales/agricultural-wages. The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales can also be contacted by phone on 0300 062 5004, e-mail at [email protected] or via post to Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales, Welsh Government, Government Building, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5HA.

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