Rural Payments and Services

A single minimum hourly rate for all agricultural workers, irrespective of age and duties has been agreed by the Scottish Agricultural Wage Board (SAWB).

The minimum hourly rate has now increased by 92p per hour to equal the UK Government’s National Living Wage of £10.42. The proposed headline minimum rates are:

- The overtime rate for all workers remains at 1.5 times the agreed hourly rate and will be £15.63 per hour

- An hourly rate of £6.53 – a 58p per hour increase - for workers who undertake an SCQF Level 4 or 5 or equivalent in Agriculture / Horticulture

- An additional sum of £1.55 per hour for workers who have appropriate qualifications

- Where it is necessary for a worker to keep and feed a dog (or dogs) to enable them to do their job then they must be paid an allowance of £8.00 per working dog up to a maximum of four dogs

- The daily rate for accommodation off-set for accommodation provided by an employer other than a house is to increase to £9.10

Further info

Dog Allowance

From 1 April 2023, the dog allowance will be £8.00 per week for each dog up to a maximum of 4.

Holidays with Pay

The terms and conditions relative to Holidays with Pay and Special holidays for all agricultural workers are prescribed in Part 4 (Articles 10-15) of the Order. The holiday provisions comply with the terms of the Working Time Regulations of 1998 as amended by the Working Time (Amended) Regulations 2001.

Additional Sum

From 1 April 2023, an additional sum of not less than £1.55 per hour is payable to those workers who hold a Scottish or National Vocational Qualification in an agricultural/horticultural subject at SCQF 6 or above; an apprenticeship certificate approved by Lantra Awards (formerly ATB Landbase); or a certificate of acquired experience issued by ATB Landbase, NTO.

Sick Pay Entitlement

The terms and conditions relative to Sick Pay Entitlement for those agricultural workers who have been continuously employed by the same employer for at least 52 weeks are prescribed in Part 5 (articles 16-19) of the Order.

Other Provisions

Provisions regarding Stable Income Arrangement, Benefit and Bereavement Leave remain unchanged. Full details can be found in the Order.

NOTES

• The above minimum wage rates shall come into effect on 1 April 2023. The Order does not apply to any person of “school age” within the meaning of sections 31 and 33 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
• For the purposes of the above rates the hours of work shall not include meal times but shall include any time during which by reason of weather conditions or otherwise, an employer has prevented a worker who was available from work, from working.
• Complaints regarding non-payment of the prescribed minimum rates of wages and non-compliance with the directions as to holidays with pay, should be addressed to The Scottish Government, D Spur, Agricultural Wages Section, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD.
• The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board continues to support in principal the concept of a UK-wide pension scheme for workers in agriculture.
• From 1 April 2023 the cap on deductions for accommodation other than a house will be £9.10

NB – The above particulars are merely a summary of the Order. For full details of the provisions, reference should be made to the Agricultural Wages Order No. 70 and the accompanying Guide, copies of which may be obtained on request from the Secretary, Scottish Agricultural Wages Board, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD, (telephone number: 0131 244 9749). E-mail: sawb@gov.scot These are also available online at www.sasa.gov.uk/agricultural-wages

The Scottish Agricultural Wage Board (SAWB) is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Agricultural Wage (Scotland) Act 1949. The Board exists to set minimum rates of pay and other conditions of service for agricultural workers in Scotland.