NMWM06020 - Specific occupations and special groups: agricultural workers

Relevant legislation

The legislation that applies to this page is as follows:

• National Minimum Wage Act 1998, sections 46, 47, 54(3) & Schedule 2

Agricultural workers in England must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMWM03100). Agricultural workers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are covered by the Agricultural Minimum Wage arrangements and must receive at least National Minimum Wage rates.

The Agriculture Advisory Panel for Wales, the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board and the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland (NMWM02050) set the minimum wages for agricultural workers in Agricultural Wages Orders. When performing agricultural work agricultural workers must be paid the appropriate Agricultural Minimum Wage. The rate will never be lower than their National Minimum Wage rate but may be higher.

Current Agricultural Minimum Wage rates can be obtained from

• Wales: Welsh Executive,
• Scotland: Scottish Executive,
• Northern Ireland: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs,

Unless an Agricultural Wages Order specifies that a worker is entitled to an agricultural wage at a higher rate they must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Agriculture is defined in the Order as including “dairy farming, the production of any consumable produce which is grown for sale, or for consumption or other use for the purposes of a trade or business or of any other undertaking (whether carried on for profit or not), and the use of land as grazing, meadow or pasture land or orchard or osier land or woodland or for market gardens or nursery grounds.” Case-law has further informed the types of occupations covered by the Order (NMWM06030).

See also: Gangmaster Supplied Labour (NMWM06130), Migrant Workers (NMWM06190) .