Common sense decision over AWB

The Secretary of State’s announcement that she will seek the agreement of the Welsh Assembly Government to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board spells the end of a contradictory and cumbersome regulatory framework, the NFU has said.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "The NFU has said for many years that the Agricultural Wages Board was an industrial relations relic that exists in no other sector of industry. The Secretary of State has quite rightly pointed out that the 1948 Act is outdated and does not have the best interest of farmers or workers at heart.

"Today’s decision comes as a welcome relief for many farmers and growers who have struggled with the complexity of the Order. But more importantly it will put farmers on a more equal footing with other employers. The presence of the Board has impacted adversely on the competitiveness of the farming sector and its removal is key to farmers and growers playing their full part in global food security.

"Clearly we need to understand the process by which the Board will be abolished and the Agricultural Wages Act will have to be revoked before we can comment further. Importantly, agricultural workers will be protected by the National Minimum Wage legislation.

"Farmers are professional employers who value their staff and the NFU will work to ensure that farmers and growers understand their responsibilities as employers. We will consider how we can offer guidance to members who currently use the Agricultural Wages Order to guide their decisions on staff wages."