Farm workers' wages to remain protected

The Agricultural Wages Board, which sets minimum wages and conditions

for 70,000 workers in England and Wales, has been saved from abolition,

according to the T&G general union.

The union, which represents rural workers, hailed a decision by Labour's

national policy forum in July to include continuation of the wages board

in the party's policy for the next general election.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stressed that a final

decision on the outcome of a review of the wages board's role was still

in the hands of ministers, and accused the union of jumping the gun.

However, Ross Finnie, minister for rural affairs in the Scottish

Executive, announced on 23 August that the Scottish Agricultural Wages

Board would be retained in its current form. It seems highly likely that

the government in London will now back a continued role for the wages

board in England and Wales.

In a consultation exercise earlier this year the government put forward

a range of options for the Board's future.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) argued for abolition of the Board, and

a spokesperson told Labour Research that if the government decided to

retain it, the NFU would want a "minimum" wages order that was "less

prescriptive" than the current arrangement.

However, Barry Leathwood, national secretary for the T&G food and

agriculture group, wanted the board's role

and coverage to be expanded. He told Labour Research that he couldn't

imagine "the remit or coverage of the Board" being reduced.