New minimum wage rates and changes to employment conditions for agricultural workers announced

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

At a meeting of the AWB on Friday 20 March 2009, the Board removed Age Bands (16 to 22) and set overtime to apply only where a worker has worked more than 39 hours per week i.e. the automatic right to overtime for working on a Sunday etc. will no longer apply.

The Board increased the Accommodation Offset for ‘Temporary and Harvest Employees’ to £31.22.  This Accommodation Offset will also apply to all workers commencing work in agriculture for the first time from 6 April 2009.

At the meeting the Board increased the minimum rates for Grade 2 and above by 3.75%.  

The lowest wage pay band known as the “Grade 1 - Minimum Rate” has not been increased at this time.

Grade 1 Minimum Rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment - £5.73 per hour.

The new rates are as follows:

• Grade 2 - Standard worker - £6.14 per hour
• Grade 3 - Lead worker - £6.74 per hour
• Grade 4 - Craft Grade - £7.24 per hour
• Grade 5 - Supervisory Grade - £7.67 per hour
• Grade 6 - Farm Management Grade - £8.29 per hour

The operative date for these new rates and Employment conditions is 6 April 2009 and these are specified in the Board’s Order No. 89. 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 rates set out above, then the minimum rates 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 2009.

The Definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade are available on the DARD website at: 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).

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 nominated by the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union, six members nominated by the Ulster Farmers' Union, and three members appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
3. The agreed amendments represent a change to the application of overtime, an increase of the Accommodation Offset to £31.22 and a change in the application of the Accommodation Offset.  They  also remove the Age Bands (16 – 22) from the minimum pay rates and increase the Grade 2 and above rates by 3.75%.  These changes take effect from 6 April 2009.  There are no other changes to working conditions.
4. This Press Release is issued by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Board Northern Ireland.
5. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.