England and Wales AWB abolished

The Agricultural Wages Order 2012 will remain in force until 30 September 2013, which means that agricultural workers recruited up to this date will have to be recruited on at least the minimum AWB terms and condition. From 1 October 2013, new agricultural workers can be recruited on different terms and conditions than those stipulated in the AWB Order, but the terms and conditions must still comply with current employment legislation, e.g. the national minimum wage, statutory minimum holidays, etc.

In Wales, the Welsh Government has previously announced that it is to “…explore all the options to ensure that the functions of the AWB are maintained in Wales” and it has now completed a public consultation process on the options available to it. It is anticipated that the Welsh Government will publish its response to the consultation in the autumn.