NFU Scotland is calling for abolition of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) and for agricultural workers' pay and conditions to be determined under general employment law.
In its submission to the Scottish Government's review of SAWB, the Union stated that it believes that legislation introduced during the years since the Board was established remove the need for specific arrangements for agricultural workers and therefore its continued existence.
Following consultation with members, NFUS noted comments that having to comply both with UK employment legislation, as well as the Wages Order adds to red tape - especially for businesses that also employ non-agricultural workers.
Gemma Thomson, NFUS legal and technical policy manager, said: "When the SAWB was established there was no National Minimum Wage, no Working Time Directive and no Gangmaster Licensing Authority.
"Nor were there the quality assurance schemes that check farm standards - including compliance with employment legislation. There were other wages boards, but all have been abolished other than SAWB. The need for it has gone and it should be abolished.
"The existence of SAWB places Scotland at a serious competitive disadvantage following the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in England."
* Meanwhile, the average price for dairy products fell by 9.3 per cent at this week's GDT (Global Dairy Trade) auction held on Tuesday, making it the 10th consecutive fall.
Skimmed milk powder was back 14.4 per cent, whole milk powder fell by 10.3 per cent and butter was down 6.1 per cent.
Market round-up
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold eight prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1322.40 per head and 232p per kg to average £1235.84 and 219.5p, while 10 prime bulls peaked at £1200 and 223p to level at £1078.41 and 194p.
In the rough ring 103 beef cows aver 122.8p and 168 dairy cows levelled at 88.2p. Nine bulls averaged 107.9p and 15 clean OTM cattle levelled at 151.2p.
There were also 12 dairy cattle forward that sold to £1280 for a freshly-calved Holstein Friesian heifer and averaged £1095.
The firm also held their monthly sale of beef-breeding cattle when the 97 head on offer were a mixed show for quality that sold slightly easier on the month.
Top prices and averages: Bulls to 2000gns for a Simmental and averaged £1703.88 for 9; heifers with calf-at-foot £2520 and £1700 for 39; cows and calves £1920 and £1458.80 for 29; bulling heifers £1100 and £967 for 20.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel