FUW hails Supreme Court ruling on a Welsh agricultural wages panel

Alun Edwards.
Alun Edwards.

The UK Supreme Court's decision to back the Welsh Government's bid to set up its own Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) to protect the incomes of thousands of Welsh agricultural workers was applauded by the Farmers' Union of Wales today.

"We wholeheartedly welcome this judgement because we have consistently supported the retention of the AWB as it has an important role in determining the pay and conditions of service which reflects the unique labour requirements of the agricultural industry, particularly in Wales," said FUW agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards.

"Agricultural workers have to be flexible in their working arrangements to cover busy periods, fine weather and unsociable hours but this type of flexibility is not covered by general employment law.

"Therefore, I believe there is a vital role for minimum rates of pay for agricultural workers and we hope the Welsh Government will now reconsider its approach towards zero-hours contracts in the light of the Supreme Court's positive judgement."