The Farmers' Union of Wales today expressed concern over continued moves by UK Government to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) as part of the Public Bodies Bill - due to be debated in the House of Commons next Tuesday (October 25).
“The Union has always supported the AWB and remains concerned that unless there are systems in place to protect payments to agricultural workers, the industry will not attract the highly skilled individuals it needs to thrive," said the union's deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.
The Union has made representations to the Government’s in Cardiff and Westminster highlighting that the AWB is still considered to be the most effective body to determine the pay and conditions of workers in a way which reflects the unique requirements of the agricultural industry in Wales.
"As many farms in Wales run with relatively few staff, the AWB is considered an important means of avoiding potential conflict and lengthy negotiations with individual staff," said Ms Nowell-Phillips.
The FUW strongly believes the AWB’s role in setting minimum rates of pay can reflect the need for agricultural workers to be flexible in their working arrangements to cover busy periods, fine weather, and unsocial hours, which are not covered by general employment law provision.
"The economic climate within the agricultural industry has made it a less attractive option for young people, and rewarding skills, qualifications, and levels of responsibility is a vital means of persuading high calibre people to remain or enter into the industry.
"Reliance on a single national minimum wage will inevitably result in an erosion of talent and skills from farming as more lucrative and physically less challenging professions are taken up.
"The Union believes that there needs to be arrangements put in place to deal with enhanced terms and conditions which reflect the dedication of agricultural workers," Ms Nowell-Phillips added.