Pay Increase for Agricultural Workers
Following a meeting on 17 January 2020, the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland has announced proposed increases to the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers.
The Board proposes to increase existing minimum rates for agricultural workers for grades 3 to 6 by 5% from 1 April 2020. In addition, the accommodation offset will rise to a maximum of £45.00 per week. Therefore the proposed new rates are:
Minimum rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment – £6.88 per hour
Grade 2 – Standard worker – £7.42 per hour
Grade 3 – Lead worker – £8.82 per hour
Grade 4 – Craft Grade – £9.49 per hour
Grade 5 – Supervisory Grade – £9.99 per hour
Grade 6 – Farm Management Grade – £10.84 per hour
Any objections to the above proposals should be sent to: AWB Secretariat, 1st Floor, Ballykelly House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO, to arrive on or before Friday 6 March 2020.
The Board will meet again on 13 March 2020 to consider any objections to the proposals and may make an Order to give effect to the new rates and other amendments which would come into operation on 1 April 2020.
The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade area available on the DAERA website or by contacting the AWB Secretariat, 1st Floor, Ballykelly House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO (Tel: 028 7744 2250).
