The Welsh Government website has been updated with the latest agricultural minimum wages rates from 1st April following a substantial change to the Agricultural Wages Order 2022 which will apply from 22nd April 2022.
The changes were due to come into effect on 1st April 2021, however, they were delayed by 12 month due to the process of ensuring that the suggested changes of the Agricultural Wages Board were accepted by the Welsh Government.
It should be noted that due to delays to the 2021 Order coming into force and despite the efforts of the FUW and NFU Cymru who sit on the Board, those who employ agricultural workers may be required to retrospectively pay those who would have expected a pay increase from 1st April 2021.
If hourly rates are already above the revised grades, there will be no need for a retrospective payment.
While the FUW acknowledges the need for employees to receive regular pay increases, the need to make retrospective payments due to avoidable delays caused by the Welsh Government is wholly unacceptable and places further pressure on farming businesses which are already facing substantial increases in input costs.
Those who employ agricultural workers should be aware of the new grading structure and evaluate each worker’s position under the new rates with their employees. However, the Order includes a payment protection policy for employees which means that their current hourly rates cannot be reduced as a result of the new grading structure.
More information and guidance is available on the Welsh Government website here: https://gov.wales/
Welsh Government guidance is available at: https://gov.wales/