The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for Northern Ireland has proposed increases to the minimum wage rates for farm workers from April 1, largely in line with the UK government’s minimum wage, which rises on that date to £12.21 an hour.
The AWB, which is chaired by Grace Nesbitt OBE from Co Antrim, whose current roles include chairing the board of governance of the Jersey Audit Office, has proposed new minimum rates of £8 per hour for under-18s and £10 an hour for those aged 18-20.
The basic rate for over 21s will be £12.21 per hour, rising to £12.50 at grade 2 (standard worker), £12.73 at grade three (lead worker), £12.98 at grade 4 (craft grade), £13.37 at grade 5 (supervisory grade) and £13.90 at grade 6 (farm management).
The AWB says that should the national minimum wage or national living wage become higher than the hourly rates it has set, then the hourly rates will change accordingly.
The accommodation offset, which limits how much an employer can charge a worker for accommodation, has been increased to £54.71 per week.
The public has a chance to object to the AWB proposals in writing by March 4 before the board meets again on March 7 to consider any objections and then make an order to bring the rates into law from April.
The AWB, which falls under the remit of Andrew Muir’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs department, was established in 1977 to set farm workers’ wages each year.
The board consists of 15 members, three of whom are appointed by the minister, and six each nominated by the Ulster Farmers’ Union as representatives of agricultural employers; and by Unite the Union as representatives of agricultural workers’ interests.
