Following a meeting on the 3 February 2025 the Agricultural Wages
Board for Northern Ireland has announced proposed increases to
the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers from 1 April
2025.
The proposed new minimum rates are:
Grade 1 - Applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative
employment:
- Under 18 - £8.00 per
hour
- 18-20 years olds - £10.00 per hour
- Over 21 - £12.21 per hour
Grade 2 – Standard worker - £12.50 per hour
Grade 3 – Lead worker - £12.73 per hour
Grade 4 – Craft Grade - £12.98 per hour
Grade 5 – Supervisory Grade - £13.37 per hour
Grade 6 – Farm Management Grade - 13.90 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.
The accommodation offset has been increased to £54.71 per week.
Any objections to the above proposals should be sent to: AWB
Secretariat, 1st Floor, Jubilee House, 111 Ballykelly Road,
Limavady, BT49 9HO, or via email to: CorporateSponsorBranch@daera-ni.gov.uk
to arrive no later than 5.00pm on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
The Board will meet again on 7 March 2025 to consider any
objections to the proposals. The Board will make an Order to give
effect to the new rates and other amendments which would come
into operation on 1 April 2025.
The definitions for the grades and the qualifications required
for each grade are available at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/awb-agricultural-rates-pay-orders-and-reports
or by contacting the AWB Secretariat 1st Floor, Jubilee House,
111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HO (Tel: 02877442037, Email:
CorporateSponsorBranch@daera-ni.gov.uk).
Notes to editors:
1. The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) was established under the
terms of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland)
Order 1977, to regulate the minimum rates of wages, and other
related matters, for workers in agriculture.
2. The Board consists of 15 members:
- three members appointed by the Minister of Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs, one of whom is Chair of the Board;
- six members nominated by the Ulster Farmers' Union as
representatives of agricultural employers; and
- six members nominated by Unite the Union as representatives
of agricultural workers' interests.
