Green light for agricultural worker’s pay increase

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

At a meeting of the AWB on Friday, March 12^th, 2021, the board agreed that the rates will become effective from April 1^st:

Agricultural worker rates Northern Ireland: 

• Minimum rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment – £6.95 per hour
• 2 – Standard worker – £7.49 per hour
• 3 – Lead worker – £8.91 per hour
• 4 – Craft Grade – £9.58 per hour
• 5 – Supervisory Grade – £10.09 per hour
• 6 – Farm Management Grade – £10.95 per hour

Definitions and qualifications

The operative date for the new rates is the first pay reference period beginning on or after April 1st, 2021, and this is specified in the Board’s Order No 101.

You can find the definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade here.

Alternatively, you can contact the AWB Secretariat 1st Floor, Ballykelly House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO (Telephone: 02877 442 250, Email: [email protected]).

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2020 rates:

Last year, the board increased existing minimum rates for agricultural workers for grades 3 to 6 by 5% from April 1st, 2020. In addition, the accommodation offset will rise to a maximum of £45.00 per week.

Agricultural worker rates Northern Ireland: 

• Minimum rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment – £6.88 per hour;
• 2 – Standard worker – £7.42 per hour;
• 3 – Lead worker – £8.82 per hour;
• 4 – Craft Grade – £9.49 per hour;
• 5 – Supervisory Grade – £9.99 per hour;
• 6 – Farm Management Grade – £10.84 per hour.

AWS – background

The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) was established under the terms of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, to regulate the minimum rates of wages, and other related matters, for workers in agriculture.

The board consists of 15 members:

• Three members appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, one of whom is Chair of the Board (one position is currently vacant);
• Six members nominated by the Ulster Farmers’ Union as representatives of agricultural employers; and;
• Also, six members nominated by Unite the Union as representatives of agricultural workers’ interests.