Industry facing wages costs

While the alignment of minimum farm worker wages with the National Living Wage (NLW) has been welcomed as a logical step, setting this as the rate regardless of age will give Scottish farmers a higher cost base than other industries, it has been claimed.

Responding to the proposals released this week by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board, NFU Scotland chief executive Scott Walker said that in other sectors the NLW – currently £7.50 per hour – only applied to those aged 25 years and over, with lower rates being paid to younger workers: “With a single rate of pay for all Scottish agricultural workers – regardless of age – this will mean that for those under the age of 25, the minimum rate of pay in agriculture will be significantly higher than in any other industry.”

Highlighting that fewer farms could afford permanent staff – relying on contractors to supplement family labour at key times of year – he said it was still crucial for the industry to attract well trained staff.

Turning to the separate area of trainees, he welcomed the differentiated rates for those involved in official schemes, claiming it recognised the time and money which employers put into training.

“For all, it is important that new workers continue to be brought into the industry and are trained to do the increasingly complex jobs required on farms,” he added. “We believe this flexibility will encourage many more Scottish farms to take on trainees and apprentices.”

Walker encouraged farmers to write to the wages board to let them know the impact the changes would have on their businesses.