Minimum wage introduced for agricultural apprentices

A minimum wage for agricultural apprentices has been introduced for the first time in Scotland in a bid to encourage more young people into the industry.

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has set the minimum hourly rate for apprentices at £3.50 per hour for the first 12 months of employment. To be eligible, workers must undertake to study a Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture.

Details of the other wage increases to take effect from October 1 are:

• workers in the first 26 weeks of employment to receive a minimum rate of £5.80 per hour (an increase of 1.2 per cent)

• for workers employed for more than 26 weeks a minimum of £6.32 per hour (an increase of 1.9 per cent)

• an additional £0.96 per hour payable to workers with appropriate qualifications

• an allowance of £4.80 per week for each dog up to a maximum of four.