Agricultural Wages in England and Wales - New rates and benefits from October 2008

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: National Minimum Wage on October 6th, 2008

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The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales has agreed a new Wages Order to come into force on 1 October 2008. The principal changes to rates of pay and benefits are as follows:

an increase in the Grade 1 (Initial Grade) pay rate for workers over compulsory school age of 3.9%, from £5.52 to £5.74 per hour
increases in the pay rates for Grades 2-6 of 4.3%, giving a new Grade 2 rate of £6.26
an increase in the accommodation offset from £4.30 to £4.46 per day, the offset only to apply when at least 15 hours have been worked in a week, and a definition of what constitutes minimum standards of accommodation
new limits on the number of holiday days that may be bought out, and provisions to allow up to 2 weeks holiday to be taken between 1 April and 30 September
an increase in the maximum period of bereavement leave to four days, pro-rata to the number of days worked, and a new provision of up to two days for the death of a brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild
extension of the definition of a Grade 3 (Lead Worker) to include the role of Team Leader.

Further information:
The Agricultural Wages Order 2008

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Written by Ian Congreave -

Filed under: National Minimum Wage on October 6th, 2008