All Scottish farm workers to be paid £7.50 an hour from April 1

The UK Government’s national living wage rate of £7.50 an hour will apply to all agricultural workers irrespective of age and duties from April 1.

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board confirmed the rate following industry negotiations.

NFU Scotland chief executive Scott Walker said the union had been successful in getting the board to recognise that the rules on overtime were having a “significant impact” on seasonal workers.

“As such, we have been able to get agreement that will see overtime for those in the first 26 weeks of employment not begin until a minimum 48 hours have been worked in a week. This is positive for both workers and employers,” he said.

Other rates agreed include an hourly rate of £4.40 (an increase of 38p per hour) for workers who undertake a Level 2 modern apprenticeship qualification; an extra £1.14 per hour for workers who have an appropriate qualification (an increase of 4p an hour); and an additional allowance of £5.60 per working dog (an increase of 11p per dog) up to a maximum of four dogs.