New Agricultural Minimum Wages for Northern Ireland - Increases in rates and holiday entitlements from 1 October 2007

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8 November 2007

The Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland (AWB) has agreed an increase to the minimum rates of wages for Grade 1 agricultural workers and changes to holiday entitlement. The increases in the minimum rates of wages apply to Grade 1 workers only and are effective from 1 October 2007. The minimum rates of pay for Grade 2 - Grade 6 agricultural workers remain unchanged. These changes were agreed at a meeting of the AWB held in September.

The new minimum rates apply to four separate age bands. These rates and age bands are: £5.52 (aged 22+); £4.60 (aged 18 - 21); £3.40 (aged 16 - 17); and £2.76 (below compulsory school leaving age).

From 1 October 2007 all workers are entitled to a minimum holiday entitlement of not less than 4.8 weeks (proportionately). The holiday year for agricultural workers is 1st January to 31st December. Accordingly, entitlement for workers with at least 52 weeks continuous employment with the same employer will be:

• for the period 1 October to 31 December 2007, additional entitlement of
  
  
  • 0.5 day for those working 1 or 2 days per week, and
  • 1 day for those working 3 to 5 days per week

• from 1 January 2008
  
  
  • 5 days holiday for those working 1 day per week
  • 10 days holiday for those working 2 days per week
  • 15 days holiday for those working 3 days per week
  • 20 days holiday for those working 4 days per week
  • 24 days holiday for those working 5 days per week.

An agricultural worker who has been in continuous employment with the same employer for more than one year is entitled to a total holiday entitlement of 29 days made up of 24 days holiday leave plus 5 of the additional days listed in Agricultural Wages legislation. This holiday entitlement is proportionate to the number of days worked.

...UK Payroll News - Latest

Further information:
Increases in minimum wage and holidays for agricultural workers
New Grading System for agricultural minimum wage

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