AWB Main Points
1. Current Rates
The Agricultural Wages Board is constituted under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and meets each year to consider changes to the rates of pay and related conditions for agricultural workers. No minimum rate fixed under this Article which is an hourly rate shall be less than the national minimum wage.
The current rates of pay for Agricultural Workers from 6th April 2012 is as follows:
Grade 1, Minimum Rate - applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment = £6.23 per hour
Grade 2, Standard Worker = £6.52 per hour
Grade 3, Lead Worker = £7.16 per hour
Grade 4, Craft Grade = £7.69 per hour
Grade 5, Supervisory Grade = £8.15 per hour
Grade 6, Farm Management Grade = £8.81 per hour
2. Holiday Entitlement
The holiday entitlement for an agricultural worker is 5.6 weeks (proportionally). A full-time worker employed five days per week is entitled to 28 days leave. For an agricultural worker in continuous employment with the same employer for more than 1 year, the maximum entitlement is 29 days.
3. Sick Pay
The scheme provides sick pay for full-time workers who have worked continuously for the same employer for 52 weeks or more. It does not cover absences due to injuries sustained outside the course of work or illness due to pregnancy or maternity.
A worker must notify his or her employer of his or her incapacity and produce a self-certified sick notice for an absence of 7 days or less, or a medical certificate for a longer period of illness.
A worker will not be paid for the first 3 days of absence unless he or she is absent for 14 days or more.
A qualifying worker will be entitled to a half day's pay plus Statutory Sick Pay for every day of absence.
If you require information on Statutory Sick Pay, please contact HM Revenue and Customs on - 0845 302 1479.
Further information on the AWB can be obtained from:
Agricultural Wages Board Secretariat
Room 910
Dundonald House
Stormont Estate
BELFAST
BT4 3SB
Tel: 02890 524 872
