Poots announces plans to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB)

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced his intention to commence the process to revoke the Agricultural Wages (Regulations) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, which will abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) in Northern Ireland.

The role of the AWB is to set minimum rates of pay and conditions for workers in agriculture.

Minister Poots said, “The Agricultural Wages Board was established in Northern Ireland around 80 years ago when there was less protection for workers.

“However, various pieces of legislation have been introduced over the years to greatly improve the level of protection afforded to all workers, in areas covering minimum wage, holiday entitlement and sick pay.

“More recently, the introduction of the National Living Wage has further reduced the necessity of the AWB and in my view, there remains little justification for the agricultural sector to be the only industry subject to the special considerations of a wage board.

“Therefore, I have instructed my officials to put in place arrangements, subject to Executive agreement and the completion of necessary impact assessments, for the Assembly to consider legislation regarding the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in Northern Ireland.

“Following abolition, it is my view that the regulatory and administrative burden on agricultural businesses will be reduced and the agricultural sector will be brought in line with the rest of the economy, with all workers receiving the protections afforded by wider employment law and UK minimum wage rates.

“I would like to thank the current Chair and members of the AWB for their work and professionalism to date,” Minister Poots added.

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Posted by NewryTimes News on Jan 29 2021. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry