Rate of record
Agriculture and the minimum wage
The Agricultural Wages Order is devolved. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set sector-specific rates that sit alongside the UK NMW. England aligned with NMW after the 2013 abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.
Devolution split
- England: AWB abolished 2013. Agricultural workers covered by UK NMW only.
- Scotland: Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order in force. Rates published annually by the Scottish Governmentgov.scot.
- Wales: Agricultural Wages Order (Wales) in force. Six grades. Rates published by Welsh Governmentgov.wales.
- Northern Ireland: Agricultural Wages Board for NI. Annual rates published by DAERAdaera-ni.gov.uk.
Seasonal worker housing
Seasonal harvest workers are commonly housed by the employer. The £11.10/day NMW accommodation offset still applies; the AWO regimes have their own dovetailed rules. Charges above the cap reduce NMW pay pound-for-pound.
Loadings (dog allowance, accommodation)
Scotland's AWO carries a dog allowance for working dogs and specific accommodation loadings. These add to NMW; they do not replace it. The NMW floor remains the binding UK-wide minimum.