Replacement Agricultural Wages Board for Wales

Plans by the Welsh Assembly to create a Welsh Agricultural Wages Board have been blocked by the UK government.

The Welsh Assembly introduced a Bill on 8 July to create a body to protect the pay and conditions of 13,000 farm workers in Wales.

The initiative was welcomed by the Unite general union. Regional secertary Andy Richards said: “The Welsh government move to bring forward legislation to preserve the pre-existing level of statutory protection for agricultural workers in Wales in light of the UK government bringing down the axe on the Agricultural Wages Board is extremely welcome news for both workers and agriculture in Wales as a whole.”

Unfortunately, Westminster has claimed that it is not within the Assembly’s competence. The issue will now go to the Supreme Court for a ruling.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23682777

www.fuw.org.uk/Consultation/items/1192.html