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Pay increase for agricultural workers announced

Friday, 2 April 2010

The Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland (AWB) has confirmed changes to pay for agricultural workers.  

At a meeting of the AWB on Monday 15 March 2010, the Board increased minimum rates for agricultural workers across all grades by 1.8%.

The proposed new rates are:

Grade 1 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 operative date for these new rates is 5 April 2010 and these are specified in the Board’s Order No. 90.  The Order will be available shortly from the Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4DG.  

Where at any time the National Minimum Wage becomes higher than the hourly rate set out above, then the minimum rate shall be equal to the National Minimum Wage.  The National Minimum Wage will be reviewed and any changes recommended should take effect by 1 October 2010.

The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade are available from the DARD website 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).

Notes to editors:

  1. The Agricultural Wages Board is constituted under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and meets each year to consider changes to the rates of pay and related conditions for agricultural workers.
  2. The Board comprises six members of Unite, six members of the Ulster Farmers' Union, and three members appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
  3. The proposed variation to minimum pay rates for agricultural workers across all grades represents an increase of 1.8%.  
  4. This Press Release is issued by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Board.
  5. Media enquiries to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.