The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales met on 13, 14 and 15 June 2006 for the 2006 annual pay negotiations. The Board has proposed introducing a new Wages Order that will come into force on
Sunday 1 October 2006.
It is proposed that:
* The minimum rates for Grades 2, 4, 5 and 6 should be increased by approximately 2.9%. This increases the basic minimum rate for an adult standard worker from £5.58 per hour to £5.74 per hour.
* The minimum basic rate for a Grade 3 worker should increase by 6.8% from £5.91 per hour to £6.31 per hour.
* The minimum basic Grade 1 rate for workers aged 16 or more should increase by 5.9% from £5.05 to £5.35 per hour in line with the National Minimum Wage.
* Other rates and allowances should increase by 2.9%.
* The Grade 1 Basic Trainee grade should be re-named "Initial Grade".
* Initial Grade workers would become entitled to receive training to meet Standard Worker requirements after 30 weeks employment in aggregate with the same employer.
* Age-related pay differentials would be abolished with the exception of the rate for under-16 Initial Grade workers.
* Appendix 2 should be replaced with specific mandatory and optional competences required and that Appendix 5 should be deleted.
* The Young Trainee category should be named "Trainees" and the scope amended to reflect changes to Government training schemes .
* The Flexible Worker category would no longer have a minimum age requirement of 18 years of age.
* The upper age limit for Apprentices should be removed.
* The rates for Years 1 and 2 of an Apprenticeship and Year 1 of an Advanced Apprenticeship should be paid at 60% of the Grade 2 rates.
The rates for Year 2 of an Advanced Apprenticeship should be paid at 75% of the Grade 2 rates.
* Total annual holiday entitlement should be increased from 22 to 23 days a year for a full-time worker working 5 days a week (and other workers would receive pro-rata benefits).
* Part-time workers would receive pro-rata treatment with full-time workers with respect to Bank and Public holidays where they do not normally work on a Bank or Public holiday.
* For workers with a contract of employment starting on or after 1 October 2006 Sunday work would not automatically attract the overtime premium only by virtue of the fact that work is being done on a Sunday.
* Work on agricultural pensions will continue in the light of the publication of the Turner Report and the government White Paper "Security in Retirement".
* The "other accommodation" offset would increase to £4.15 per day.
* The issue of paid leave in cases of domestic emergencies (e.g. medical or hospital appointments) is to be considered within the framework of future negotiations.
* Entitlement to Paternity leave should be removed and replaced by a grant to male and female workers upon the birth or adoption of a child. . Other technical and consequential drafting amendments are also proposed.
The Board agreed the proposed pay increases by 10 votes to 6 with the Independent Members voting with the National Farmers' Union.