There is no longer the need for a separate minimum wage for agricultural workers, claims NFU Scotland.
The union has urged all of its members to write to the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board to explain how a proposed increase in minimum wage rates for farm workers will impact their businesses.
Last week the wages board proposed an increase to wage rates in line with a rise in the National Minimum wage.
If approved, the minimum wage for agricultural workers will increase by 15p an hour to £7.14 from October 1, 2014. This could bring the minimum wage for a 39-hour week up to £278.46.
“NFU Scotland believes that with the introduction of a national minimum wage, there no longer is a reasonable argument why agriculture should be thought of as different and have its own minimum wage setting body,” said the union’s chief executive Scott Walker.
He said the proposed wage increases would “once again see minimum standards imposed on agriculture that are higher than the standards imposed on the rest of industry”.
Mr Walker added: “With the pressures that agriculture is under and the strong relationship that most farmers have with their workers, farmers want to see their workers well rewarded for the jobs that they do when it can be afforded.”
Farmers have until June 27 to respond to the proposals.