An increase to the minimum hourly rate of pay has been introduced for agricultural apprentices by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Agricultural workers will also receive an increased hourly rate from October 1 this year. Details of the pay award are:

A minimum rate of £5.96 per hour for workers in the first 26 weeks of employment
At least £6.51 per hour for workers employed for more than 26 weeks
An hourly rate of not less than £3.61 per hour for workers during the first 12 months of employment who undertake a Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture
The additional sum payable to workers who have appropriate qualifications will be £0.99 per hour
The dog allowance will also increase to £4.94 per week for each dog up to a maximum of four
The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board met on August 18 to consider six written representations received against its initial proposals for change. After careful consideration of each representation it agreed to confirm its proposals published in May.

The Scottish Agricultural Wages is constituted under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949. It is an autonomous body and comprises 17 members: six representing the interests of employers nominated by the NFU Scotland and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association; six representing the interests of workers nominated by Unite the Union; and five independent members appointed by the Scottish Ministers, one of whom is designated Chair.

Copies of the Wages Order No 58, effective from October 1, 2010 will be available from mid-September 2010 and can be obtained from the Secretary, Scottish Agricultural Wages Board, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD, Tel No: 0300 244 9751.