A public consultation is underway on proposals to increase farmworker wages in Wales by 1.8 per cent from April 2020.

The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales has issued its proposed changes to the terms and conditions for agricultural workers, to be included in the Agricultural Wages Order 2020.

The panel has proposed that the minimum rates of pay for agricultural workers increases by 1.8 per cent across all pay bands.

This would increase the rate for Grade 2 workers to £8.60/hour and the rate for Grade 4 (craftsman equivalent) to £9.53/hour.

The panel said these figures reflected uncertainties surrounding the agricultural industry and the need to ensure a fair rate of pay for farmworkers.

In contrast, the National Living Wage for workers over 25 years of age is currently £8.21/hour but that is forecast to rise to £8.67/hour from 2020.

The consultation, which closes on October 16, also includes some minor clarifications on workers’ eligibility for sick and holiday pay.