Following a meeting on 20 January 2023, the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland has announced proposed increases to the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers.

The Board also proposes to increase existing minimum rates for agricultural workers for all grades by 8.5% from 1 April 2023.  Therefore, the proposed new rates are:

Minimum rate, applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment -

Pound 7.54 per hour

Grade 2 - Standard worker                        - Pound 8.13 per hour

Grade 3 - Lead worker                               - Pound 10.16 per hour

Grade 4 - Craft Grade                                - Pound 10.92 per hour

Grade 5 - Supervisory Grade                    - Pound 11.49 per hour

Grade 6 - Farm Management Grade       - Pound 12.48 per hour

Should the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage, as applicable, become higher than the hourly rates set out above then the hourly or other minimum rate will default to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, whichever applies.

Further, the Board propose increasing the accommodation offset by 8.5% to Pound 51.27 per week.

Additionally the Board proposes 3 days Bereavement Leave following the death of a close family member.  

Any objections to the above proposals should be sent to: AWB Secretariat, 2^nd Floor, Jubilee House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO, or via email to CorporateSponsorBranch@daera-ni.gov.uk to arrive on or before Friday 10 March 2023.

The Board will meet again on 16 March 2023 to consider any objections to the proposals and may make an Order to give effect to the new rates and other amendments which would come into operation on 1 April 2023.

The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required for each grade are available on the DAERA website or by contacting the AWB Secretariat 2^nd Floor, Jubilee House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO (Tel: 02877442037, Email: CorporateSponsorBranch@daera-ni.gov.uk).